Belgium

BIPT supervises two economic sectors: * the postal sector and * the telecommunications sector, now called electronic communications. BIPT exercises its powers through two kinds of activities in particular: * The first concerns new regulatory tasks in the liberalised telecommunications markets. BIPT makes the necessary arrangements in order that the regulatory framework is observed, competition can develop fully and fairly, certain tasks of public interest are carried out and consumer interests are protected. * The second concerns the exercise of supreme authority in specific technical fields. Certain resources, such as the electromagnetic spectrum or the numbering space, are scarce: a regulator is required to share, regulate and monitor their use with accuracy. The Institute carries out yet more technical tasks of public interest.