2014 Portugal - Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media and Forecasts

Report Cover Image

Last updated: 7 Jul 2014 Update History

Report Status: Archived

Report Pages: 87

Publication Overview

This report evaluates the major elements of the Portuguese telecom market, presenting statistics on the fixed telephony sector as well as an analysis of the major market players. Additional information is provided on the key regulatory issues, noting the status of interconnection, local loop unbundling, number portability and carrier preselection. The report also profiles the mobile market, providing statistics on network operators, a review of the key regulatory issues, a snapshot of the consumer market, and an analysis of mobile data services such as SMS, Push-to-Talk and mobile TV. The broadband sector is covered in detail, including both the fixed and wireless segments. The converged media market analysis is supported by statistics on the cable, digital and satellite TV segments and an assessment of the major players and service offerings.

Researcher:- Henry Lancaster
Current publication date:- July 2014 (13th Edition)

Executive Summary

Telecom revenue continues to decline as Portugal Telecom looks to Brazil

Portugal has a medium-sized telecom market with a strong mobile sector and a growing broadband customer base well served by both the cable and DSL platforms. The development of digital-TV services has progressed under cautious regulatory guidance, with a licence for digital-service transmission awarded to Portugal Telecom in mid-2008. The difficult economic conditions in the country in recent years have been reflected tin operators’ declining revenue. This saw Cogeco selling the flagging Cabovisão in early 2012 for a considerable loss, while significant merger activity has arisen as operators see benefits in scale. Sonaecom’s Optimus division was merged with Zon Multimédia in mid-2013, becoming Zon Optimus, while Portugal Telecom is in the process of merging with Brazil’s telco Oi.

The mobile market is served by a triopoly of MNOs: the incumbent’s TMN, Vodafone and Optimus. Mobile penetration is above the EU average, while growth has been supported through the popularity for multiple SIMs. All operators have launched 3G services and have invested in HSPA and LTE upgrades. The MVNO market remains undeveloped, though network operators have their own low-cost brands and a range of offers tied to commercial enterprises, such as clubs, providing bespoke calling rates.

There has been considerable development in the converged services market. The digital TV platform was completed in April 2012 with all analogue broadcasting coming to an end. A licence for pay TV and free-to-air services was awarded to Portugal Telecom in 2008. The operator’s quad-play service, launched in 2013, has tapped into the popularity of bundled offerings.

Portugal’s broadband penetration is considerably lower than the European average, though the efforts of a capable and robust regulator coupled with infrastructure upgrades in both the cable and DSL sectors have narrowed the gap during the last two years. Cable has showed strong growth in recent years, partly through the efforts of the rebranded dominant operator Zon Optimus. Portugal Telecom and its subsidiaries control most of the DSL market, but new regulatory provisions have granted easier and cheaper access for alternative ISPs.

All operators have focussed on increasing broadband speed, while the regulator has encouraged and maintained the impetus for local loop unbundling. The fibre market remains underdeveloped, though regulatory measures coupled with substantial investments planned by the major operators should see significant growth in coming years.

Key developments:

Fibre sector showing strongest growth, accounting for 75% of all new subscribers; PT eliminates special rights granted to the government’s golden shares; AR Telecom exits residential market; Zon Multimédia and Optimus merge to form Zon Optimus; PT nears merger with the Brazilian telco Oi, opens Europe’s largest data centre; LTE commercial services expand across Portugal; m-payment solution developments; TMN rebranded as Meo; financial constraints putting pressure on consumer spend for high-end telecom services; Lycamobile launches mobile services; regulator extends subsidy programme for DTTV/DTH STBs; IPTV subscriber base approaches one million; quarter of households take bundled services; PT launches quad-play service; Zon Optimus launches satellite-based quad-play offer; regulator’s market data to Q4 2013; telcos’ operating and financial data to Q1 2014; market developments to May 2014.

Companies and subsidiaries covered include:

TMN, Optimus, Vodafone, Zon Multimédia, Vodafone, Portugal Telecom. 

Data in this report is the latest available at the time of preparation and may not be for the current year

Related Reports

Share this Report

TMT Intelligence

A platform to scale your intelligence tasks

Monitor critical insights with our AI-powered Market Intelligence Platform gathering and analyzing intelligence in real time. With AI trained to spot emerging trends and detect new strategic opportunities, our clients use TMT Intelligence to accelerate their growth.

If you want to know more about it, please see:

TMT Intelligence Platform

Research Methodology

BuddeComm's strategic business reports contain a combination of both primary and secondary research statistics, analyses written by our senior analysts supported by a network of experts, industry contacts and researchers from around the world as well as our own scenario forecasts.

For more details, please see:

Research Methodology

More than 4,000 customers from 140 countries utilise BuddeComm Research

Are you interested in BuddeComm's Custom Research Service?

News & Views

Have the latest telecommunications industry news delivered to your inbox by subscribing to BuddeComm's weekly newsletter.

Unsubscribe