The Brussels Region is planning to introduce a tax on mobile phone antennas, Le Soir reported on Wednesday.

This follows the introduction of a similar tax in the Walloon Region, which is currently being challenged in the courts by telecom operators.

It forms part of the plan to replace existing municipal taxes in Brussels. The 2015 regional budget includes revenue of around 10 million euros related to the introduction of "a new tax" on mobile operators.

According to reports, this could mean a tax of about 8,000 euros per telecom company site, which typically house about 3 antenna, or a tax of 1,500 euros per individual antenna.

The Minister of Finance, Guy Vanhengel, said at the moment these is no specific timeframe for the entry into force of this tax.

He said the aim was to harmonise the tax rate amongst the various municipalities within the Brussels Region. "Currently, 19 municipalities collect 19 different taxes on GSM antennas. The amounts, rules, definitions, exemptions are different," he said, adding that the Region was acting to "eliminate the disparate nature and provide a stable framework for operators." Endit

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