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Earlier this week, the energy supplier Mega from Liège unpacked a striking announcement: from now on, you can take out a subscription for your smartphone at Mega. Those who combine that with an energy contract enjoy a discount. How advantageous is this formula?

Compared to our neighboring countries, in Belgium we have to pay quite a lot for mobile services as well as for fixed Internet and telecom bundles. Especially for the large bundles and mobile subscriptions with little or just a lot of data, we pay more than in our neighboring countries. Experts note the need for more competition.

In the news: Mega now also offers mobile telephony.

  • The new product has been named Mega Telecom. Customers can choose from three bundles.
    • If you choose the cheapest formula Spark you pay 12 euros per month, or 10 euros per month if you already have an energy contract with Mega. In exchange you get 150 calling minutes, 150 text messages and 5 gigabytes of mobile data.
    • For the Flash subscription, you pay 17 euros a month if you are not a customer. Otherwise, the rate drops to 15 euros per month. Flash lets you make unlimited calls and text messages. On top of that, you get 15 gigabytes of mobile data.
    • Star is the most expensive formula. The price tag is 27 euros for non-subscribers and 25 euros for subscribers. As with Flash, you can get unlimited calls and texts. You also get 60 gigabytes of mobile data.
  • Noted: If you become a telecom customer before Feb. 29, you are eligible for a discount of 4 euros per month for three months on Spark and six months on Flash, and of 8 euros for six months on Star.

How cheap is Mega?

The comparison: Mega, as in the energy market, wants to profile itself as a low-cost player. Our comparison shows that the energy provider is not the cheapest player in terms of mobile telephony.

  • We first shed light on the so-called light formulas.
    • Mobile Vikings is the cheapest player within this category. You pay 10 euros each month. Unlike Spark from Mega, you only get 4 gigabytes of surfing volume. You also get 150 calling minutes, and can send unlimited text messages.
    • Base, part of Telenet, also offers a cheaper formula. You pay 11 euros a month for mobile usage up to 6 gigabytes. For that price, you can also make unlimited calls and texts.
    • Mega does just a little better than Scarlet, part of Proximus. The Cherry formula costs 13 euros. You can surf on your smartphone for 6 gigabytes each month, and unlimited texting. Furthermore, you receive 600 calling minutes.
      • Scarlet has another cheaper subscription, called Red. If you choose that formula, you get a monthly surfing volume of only 1 gigabyte.
    • With Telenet, you pay 16 euros for a surfing volume of 5 gigabytes. Just like with Base, you can make unlimited calls and send unlimited texts.
    • Orange charges 14 euros per month. You get 6 gigabytes of mobile data traffic and 150 calling minutes. You can text unlimited with that subscription.
  • In the so-called medium category, Mega also faces some competitors. All the formulas below let you make unlimited calls and text messages.
    • Hey Telecom, part of Orange, is the absolute price breaker here. For 10 euros a month, you can use as much as 20 gigabytes of mobile data. After a year, the maximum usage increases to 40 gigabytes per month.
    • Youfone (via Proximus) charges 14 euros a month for a surfing volume of 20 gigabytes.
    • At Mobile Vikings, you pay 15 euros per month for 15 gigabytes of mobile data.
    • Those who subscribe Hot to Scarlet pay 18 euros each month. In exchange, you get a surfing volume of 13 gigabytes.
    • Proximus charges 19.99 euros per month for a surfing volume of 10 gigabytes.
    • Telenet is the most expensive provider. You pay that telecom giant 20.94 euros per month for a surfing volume of 13 gigabytes.
  • Finally, there are the heavy formulas. As above, the subscriptions below allow unlimited calls and texts.
    • Hey Telecom is again one of the cheapest players. For 20 euros a month you get 80 gigabytes of mobile. After a year, that is increased to 160 gigabytes.
    • With Youfone you also pay 20 euros per month, but have to be satisfied with a surfing volume of 40 gigabytes.
    • If you choose Mobile Vikings, you pay 20 euros each month for a 30 gigabyte surf volume. You can go one step further and pay 29 euros per month. In that case, you can consume 85 gigabytes of mobile data each month.
    • With Orange, you can consume 50 gigabytes of mobile data monthly for 23 euros per month. For a monthly consumption of 100 gigabytes, you pay 35 euros.
    • If you choose Base, you will pay 29 euro a month for a surfing volume of 40 gigaybyte. If you need more, you can consider selecting the most expensive formula. Then you'll pay 39 euro for 100 gigabytes of mobile data.
    • Proximus charges 29.99 euro for a monthly surf volume of 50 gigabytes. You can also opt for a package without limits. Price tag: 49.99 euros per month.

Do the comparison yourself: Not sure yet which product suits you? There are some comparison sites, including bestetarief.be, the price comparator of the regulator BIPT, that will help you make the right choice. (resume)

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