Dutch incumbent KPN has called off the sale of its Belgian subsidiary Base after failing to receive a high enough offer. The firm said Wednesday morning that the sale was discontinued because “current difficult market conditions are reflected in unsatisfactory non-binding offers for Base.” KPN announced plans to sell the operation in June. It is also looking to divest German operation E-Plus.

It’s been a week of pecuniary punishments in the Low Countries, with carriers in both Belgium and the Netherlands on the receiving end of regulatory remonstrations. First up was Proximus, a carrier with a name that makes it sound like a character from the film Gladiator. It’s appropriate, really, as the firm – which is the mobile arm of incumbent telco Belgacom and the market leader – seems to feel as if it’s been stabbed in the back by a petty, power-crazed ruler.

Apple iPhone users will be able to circumvent cellular networks to make calls thanks to a voice over internet protocol app supplied by Belgian phone firm Nomado Telecom. The tech provider claims callers could make savings of up to 80 per cent connecting to the internet via the terminal’s wifi connection. Calls made via Nomado’s [...]