1         Introduction – How does it work?

This module allows you to compare the average monthly cost of tariff plans available on the Belgian residential market for fixed internet access, mobile internet access or a combined solution, on the basis of the information you provide for your monthly usage profile.

This indicative tool can help you select a specific tariff plan from those available on the market which are represented in the tariff simulator.

2         Step 1: Basic profile

 2.1       Usage details




Figure 1 – Select the required connection type

The first step is to enter thedetails of your internet connection use. First you will have to specify which type of internet service you are interested in: a fixed connection, mobile internet or a combined solution? A combined solution provides both fixed and mobile internet access.

To help you make the right selection, you need to understand how the tariff plans will be filtered on the results display page:

§ Fixed connection ®Displays tariff plans for fixed connections and combined solutions
§ Mobile connection ®Displays only tariff plans for mobile internet
§ Combined solution ® Displays only tariff plans for combined solutions




The page contents will change according to your selection. The page will contain default values for the minimum volumes required and/or the number of days per month you connect to the internet (mobile).

You can change these values

§ either directly by entering your own usage (for example, from information provided by your current supplier on your bill or in your personal account)
§ or by using the slider(s) at the top of the page. 

These sliders allow you to choose between three predefined usage profiles: low/medium/high. These profiles are linked to predefined figures on monthly download volumes and, for mobile access, an average number of days of use. These default values are based on data collected from operators on the Belgian residential market and are displayed directly in the ‘broadband usage’ section.

 2.1.1       Fixed connection




Figure 2 – Slider and usage details for fixed internet connection

By default the slider is set to its lowest setting. As you move the slider to the right, you can see the impact on the data volume (in GB).

	Low	Medium	High
Volume	20 GB	80 GB	150 GB

Figure 3 – Default slider profile values for fixed internet connection

For all requests for fixed connection alone or for a combined solution, you need to enter the postcode for the future connection to allow the system to determine the service operators in that area.

There are also questions on your minimum requirements for monthly data volume (in GB) and speed (in Mbps). The questions on speed are optional.

 2.1.2       Mobile connection




Figure 4 – Slider and usage details for mobile internet connection

For mobile internet services, in addition to a slider enabling you to select a predefined profile, two parameters are taken into account to provide a list of tariff plans that are most suited to your usage. These parameters are the minimum download volume requirement (to be entered in MB) and the average number of days per month you connect to the internet (as some tariff plans for mobile internet involve an additional cost for each day it is used). The default slider profile values are as follows:

		Low	Medium	High
Mobile BB	Volume	50 MB	250 MB	2500 MB
	Days/month	3	9	17

Figure 5 – Default slider profile values for mobile internet connection

 2.1.3       Combined solution

 

Figure 6 – Sliders and usage details for combined solution




For solutions combining fixed and mobile internet, the information is required:

§ The postcode for the future connection, to allow the system to determine the service operators in that area for fixed internet 
§ The minimum monthly download volume requirements (to be entered in GB for the fixed component and in MB for the mobile component)
§ The average number of days per month you connect to the internet (for the mobile component
§ If you wish, you can also specify the download speed required for a fixed connection (upload/download) expressed in Mbps. 




If you select the combined solution, the public interface also provides two sliders enabling you to select usage profiles for fixed and mobile internet independently.

 

		Low	Medium	High
Fixed BB	Volume	20 GB	80 GB	150 GB
Mobile BB	Volume	50 MB	250 MB	2500 MB
	Days/month	3	9	17

Figure 7 – Sliders and predefined profiles for combined solution

 2.2       Desired features




Figure 8 – Desired features

You can then enter more details of the features that you are looking for: 

§ One or more e-mail addresses
§ Anti-virus protection
§ Anti-spam protection
§ Personal web space




By default, these are not selected.

A fifth option is listed only for queries including a fixed connection (fixed connection or combined solution). This relates to whether you have a Belgacom telephone subscription. This can have a direct impact on the fixed connection component of the offers available to you: if you are already have Belgacom telephone subscription, you can get internet access via alternative operators offering access over the existing Belgacom line.




 2.3       Quality requirements




Figure 9 – Quality requirements

Please indicate whether you want free 24/7 helpdesk support or if you want to be able to visit physical sales outlets.

You can also indicate that these aspects are not important to you, in which case all the tariff plans will be displayed. By default it is assumed that these aspects are not important to you.

When you have entered this information, you can immediately access the query results on the basis of the completed profile by clicking on the ‘Search’ button (step 2).

3.Step 2: Displaying the results

The second step consists in obtaining and displaying the results.







Figure 10 – User-selected display settings

The tariff plans suggested are those which can be provided in the area indicated by the postcode on the first page if you opted for a solution with a fixed component. By default, the results display list is limited to the 20 best offers with a maximum of three offers per operator. However, users can change the number of results displayed using the corresponding dropdown boxes.

By default, the tariff plans are sorted in increasing order by average monthly cost on the basis of the usage details you entered. You can change the sort order by clicking on the relevant column heading (operator, tariff plan, monthly cost, average monthly cost).




Figure 11 – Results display: suggested tariff plans

This list will show the following information:

§ The geographical area to which the query relates if it includes a fixed component
§ The name of the operator, optionally with its logo
§ The name of the tariff plan
§ Icons indicating any add-ons, promotions and discounts 
§ An icon showing the connection type (DSL/mobile broadband/cable) 
§ The monthly fee
§ The estimated average monthly cost. This includes a proportion of the installation and activation fee and, for any fixed internet component, any costs associated with line rental, purchasing a modem, etc.  This information is shown in a window in detail if you roll your cursor over the relevant icon (= red arrow to the right of the average monthly cost for the plan).  This average monthly cost also takes account of any promotional offers (e.g. free activation) and any add-ons (e.g. additional volume over and above the nominal volume limit included).




 


Figure 12 – Displaying a plan

 

When you click on this icon, additional information is shown:

§ The section on the left shows information on the connection, such as access type, download/upload speed, download limit, costs in excess of volume limits, any costs for modem purchase/rental, the daily cost for mobile internet, and information on minimum contract period, billing, payment options and customer service hours.

§ The section on the right includes the average monthly cost breakdown (i.e. the monthly plan fee, activation/installation fees, the cost of line rental, the modem cost, etc.) and any remarks on add-ons, promotions and reductions.

 

Where applicable, it is indicated whether these costs are monthly charges or if the fee has been split over the contract period.

If you want to look at the specific details of one of the tariff plans shown in the results, click on the name of that plan (step 3).

You can also change your consumption profile by clicking on the ‘Change/Edit your usage details’ button.

You can print the list of results by clicking on the ‘Print results’ button.

4.Step 3: Detailed information

This step allows you to view the details of an operator’s tariff plan. You can access this information by clicking on the name of the tariff plan in the list of results:




Figure 13 – Accessing detailed information on a plan

This page includes:

§ Contact details for the operator (name, address, telephone number, e-mail and web addresses)

§ Detailed information and features for the tariff plan.