Belgium is experiencing a rapid expansion of parcel locker networks, prompting the Belgian Institute for Postal Services and Telecommunications (BIPT) to launch a public consultation on their future development and regulation. Parcel lockers have grown nearly tenfold in six years: by the end of 2024, Belgium counted 1,684 lockers, up from just over 170 in 2018. Despite this impressive rollout, parcel lockers still handle only around 2 percent of all parcels. At the same time, home delivery dominates with 81 percent of volume, and manned postal points account for another 17 percent.
The consultation highlights a paradox: networks are expanding faster than consumer adoption. Operators such as bpost, DHL Express, Instabee, and Mondial Relay are building dense networks, with bpost targeting 2,500 lockers by the end of 2025 and Mondial Relay planning 500 new units in the same period. This creates an emerging question for planners: will early movers gain long-term control over the most valuable sites? Public space suitable for lockers is scarce, especially in high-traffic areas, increasing the risk of a future “first mover advantage” that could limit competition and innovation.
Spatial distribution mirrors this tension. In 2024, Belgium averaged one parcel locker per 7,014 inhabitants or per 18.1 km², but availability is heavily concentrated in cities and regional hubs. By contrast, manned postal points remain far more widespread, with nearly 9,700 staffed locations—one per 1,220 residents. Policymakers have considered requiring at least one parcel locker per municipality. Still, BIPT finds such regulation premature due to currently limited locker usage and ongoing expansion by market players, consultation-parcel-lockers.
From a regulatory perspective, parcel lockers are part of the national postal infrastructure, meaning operators must provide reciprocal, transparent, and non-discriminatory access to one another, where necessary, for the development of postal services. Any agreements on access conditions must be submitted to BIPT, and pricing must reflect market-oriented principles. This raises strategic questions about interoperability, technical standards, and competition rules that could reshape the parcel delivery ecosystem.
The consultation seeks stakeholder input in three main areas:
- State of the market — geographical coverage, consumer behaviour, and the factors influencing locker use.
- Operational challenges — difficulties accessing existing lockers, building new networks, acquiring suitable sites, and ensuring convenience and reliability for users.
- Future improvements — potential for shared locker networks, harmonised technology, transparent tariff agreements, and the need (or not) for additional regulation.
For logistics professionals and urban planners, the message is clear: parcel lockers are poised to become a more prominent part of the last-mile landscape, but their strategic value depends on thoughtful spatial planning, fair competition, and consumer-centred design. The BIPT consultation invites stakeholders to shape that future now.
Source: BIPT
Picture: Bpost