Telenet opens its own innovation centre in Brussels

Brussels, October 5th, 2017 - Today, Telenet opened its own innovation centre in Brussels in the presence of Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Post. In this innovation centre, Telenet will not only test new technology for connectivity, entertainment, value added services or customer experiences, but also give partners the opportunity to test their projects using Telenet technology and to appeal to the Telenet know-how. The Telenet Innovation Centre will also serve as a knowledge and innovation centre for the Liberty Global Group.

The drive to innovate is a crucial part of Telenet’s DNA. Successful results include the introduction of high-speed internet through coaxial cable in the late 1990s, the launch of interactive digital television in 2005, the launch of Yelo TV in 2010, as well as product innovations such as King and Kong or WIGO or the recently launched new smart product line-up for BASE. All these innovations were developed internally and organically within Telenet. In recent years, the company has also been involved in supporting broader innovation. Telenet actively participates in several initiatives that market innovative products and services (such as Doccle, Spencer, Belgian Mobile ID, …) and contributes to a healthy start-up ecosystem through partnerships with Start-it@KBC and iStart of IMEC.

By opening its own innovation centre, Telenet wants to stimulate, deepen and streamline both internal and external innovation initiatives.

The new Telenet innovation centre is based on "collaborative innovation" and is therefore conceived as a place where Telenet experts and third parties can make use of the most advanced fixed and mobile broadband technology to test new products, services, apps and prototypes within Telenet’s strategic ambitions and plans.

Today, the Telenet Innovation Centre’s focus is on the introduction and preparation of 5G and the Internet of Things (IoT). Eventually, the innovation centre’s action range will be extended to entertainment, value added services and customer experiences.

Chinese ZTE, Telenet's partner for the roll-out and upgrade of the BASE network since 2015, is the innovation centre’s most important infrastructure partner and will, together with Telenet, test the preparation for the launch of 5G in Belgium. This is why the latest 5G network components and antennas have been installed in the newly opened innovation centre.

The Telenet Innovation Centre has also been set up as a test environment for IoT and 5G for the entire Liberty Global group. Liberty Global's branches are welcome in Brussels to experiment with the latest (mobile) technology.

John Porter, CEO of Telenet: "Permanent innovation is the lifeline for our company, particularly in a world of rapidly changing technology developments. With the Telenet Innovation Centre, we want to be ambitious and bring our own innovations to a higher level, but also help shape external innovation projects. I believe in the absolute strength of partnerships, also for innovation, and I am therefore convinced that with our model of collaborative innovation and with the help of partners such as ZTE, we can bring the best broadband and media technology to Belgium for thorough testing, experiments and - if successful – an effective launch in our market. "

Balan Nair, CTO of Liberty Global: "The opening of the Telenet Innovation Center is an important milestone for Liberty Global. The cutting-edge infrastructure and Telenet’s fully owned mobile network provide the perfect conditions for us to test the products and services that can pave the way towards the GIGAWorld. I'm already excited about the opportunities and inspiration that await us.”

Alexander De Croo, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Development Cooperation, Digital Agenda, Telecom and Post: "With the new Telenet Innovation Center, Digital Belgium can gain 5G experience. It gives startups and the academic world a pioneering advantage in developing new services that use the advanced 5G capabilities. It is good that Belgium plays a key role in the development of 5G. "

The Telenet innovation center is situated at Neerveldstraat 107, 1200 Sint-Lambrechts-Woluwe/Brussels, right next to the Telenet headquarters.