Osiris.Brussels: How Brussels Coordinates Construction (and What Sucks About It)
UPDATE: I received more details on the waiting time, read more under part 3 below.
You know those signs that pop up in your street with a little map with some funny colors in it? That one that you know that disturbances are imminent? What is behind it? Let’s peel back the covers and peek in.
This summer — August 12 to be exact — , we at SmartFiber, put in our first orders with Eurofiber . Eurofiber’s process has been nothing but amazing (note to self: write blog post about this experience). Clear communication, responsive. Exactly the oppositive that I have come to expect from the telecommunications industry.
This week I got this email:
Like Jack the Ripper used to say, let’s go by parts.
1: “ Our contractor already applied for the civil works permits “
This was expected from the beginning. I knew that the permits are a tough challenge. From the beginning of the process Eurofiber warned that this process is a big unknown and can take up to 20 weeks. I understand and appreciate the complexity that the Brussels region has to manage.
- 19 different communes with different codes,
- it has to ensure the comfort and safety of its residents,
- be agile for companies,
- handle tons of legacy “stuff” under the ground,
- and inform many different parties (telecom companies, utilities, police, etc.)
It sucks for my client and me, but I understand that it is for the greater good.
2: “ Companies are allowed to join us in our civil works “
This is the raison d’être of Osiris. Osiris is the platform that the Brussels region uses to coordinate this conversation. Anyone can have access to it: http://osiris.brussels . The site might look janky for the modern eye, but you have to see it in context. Specially with what existed before. Nothing. When a company wanted to build anything, it had to go fish out the information from various different parties. Imagine the chaos of trying to get information from a company that does not want to give you information. Or maybe they do not even have that information organized in order to share.
Multiply that by the number of companies with stakes on infrastructure in Brussels and add a zest of ill-will and you have a very sucky soup.
Even though it has a lot of room for improvement, Osiris is a good platform.
3: “ … they have 60 days to send us their to-build plans… “
UPDATE: I got more detailed information from the friendly folks at Eurofiber and Fabricom. In interest of simplicity, they told me 60 days. Here is how those 60 days breakdown:
- first 20 days: another company can sign up to build together
- the company has then 20 days to submit their to-build plans
- if not submitted on time, the company has another 20 days grace period
- if still not submitted, the window closes and the contractor can proceed submitting their to-build plans.
- Better explained, but the throttle button still exists. 60 days, that is a loooot of days.
60 days?! And THEN the contractor has to plug all that info back into
their system and THEN send it out again. Why 60 days? Where is the forward looking government that sets a more aggressive target in order to optimize for efficiency? That is catering to the lowest common denominator.
There is a strong chance that there are a lot more intricacies that I do not see with my telecommunications glasses on. For other industries, maybe it does take that long to conduct all necessary technical studies in order to provide a to-build plan. Maybe. Maybe not.
Why not implement a tighter window in order to promote (force?) efficiency?
Maybe they can reverse the flow. Instead of a reactive approach, companies interested in building in a certain area can proactively indicate that they would like to build in certain area. I can even imagine that Brussels can conduct a sort of Kickstarter campaign — if enough companies indicate that they would like to build in a certain area, the permits are granted.
4: “ … new approval. This can take several months… “
Welcome to the land of Unintended Consequences.
I am certain that the spirit of the law is pure and angelic. But this reeks. Does that mean that another company can submit horrible to-build plans which the Brussels region will not approve? Is this how they keep me in check?
For how long can they delay the process?
Is each player allowed to disrupt the process or are there coordinated blocks of time?
I will keep updating this blog post as I learn more about the process.
Is this the reason why very few other players get into the business of infrastructure in Belgium? Is that yet another reason that the existing duopoly persists? It is hard to see an entrant breaking through this industry without an enormour pile of cash to keep it going. How can a company make effective change if the environment around resists?
Let me tackle this the stoic way and flip this problem upside down. I do not know how to yet, but I shall find a way.
Well, I never thought it would be easy nor quick. Strap on your seatbelts; we are in for the loooong ride.
