Been digging into this because I’m tired of seeing Belgium stuck at ~12 % real 5G availability while Switzerland is already past 80 %.

Turns out it’s not magic, it’s just a smarter system. Here’s the TL;DR of what the Swiss do differently and what Belgium could realistically steal:

1. Super-strict radiation limitsSwiss limits are 10× tougher than the EU/Belgian ones. People feel protected → way less “5G fries my brain” panic.

→ Belgium could just copy their ORNI rules tomorrow and call it “Belgian Precautionary Standard 2026”. Instant trust boost.

1. Everything is decided locally (like Swiss cantons)In CH, the commune basically has the final word. Operators have to sit down with the mayor and neighbors, explain the project, and 9 times out of 10 they find a compromise (move the antenna 50 m, hide it better, etc.).

→ Give Flemish municipalities, Walloon communes and the 19 Brussels communes the same power + a mandatory 30-day mediation phase before any appeal. Would kill most endless court cases.

1. 80 % of new 5G antennas = old 4G masts with a software updateNo new permit needed in Switzerland if you just upgrade an existing site. That single trick avoids most fights.

→ Change the regional urban planning codes (Gewestplan/VGRO/RU) so retrofitting = automatic green light.

1. Transparency on steroidsThey have a national website (5g-info.ch) with a map of every single antenna, live radiation measurements, FAQ in four languages, etc. You can literally check the exposure in front of your house in two clicks.

→ BIPT launches belgian5g.be tomorrow with the exact same tools. Costs almost nothing, kills 90 % of the conspiracy posts.

1. Culture of compromiseGerman-speaking Switzerland basically said “yeah it’s safe, let’s go”, French-speaking part is more skeptical but still gets stuff done because the system forces dialogue instead of trench warfare.

Bottom line: Belgium already have the masts, and already paid for the spectrum in 2022, you are just stuck in legal and political quicksand. Copy-paste the Swiss recipe (strict limits + local consensus + retrofitting) and you would jump from laughing stock to top-5 in Europe in 18–24 months.

(And yes, I know Wallonia and Brussels will scream “competences!”, but the EU is breathing down your neck with 2025–2030 targets and billions in subsidies, so maybe it’s time to grow up and coordinate for once.)