Communications prices in Portugal exceed European average – Telecommunications
Broadband prices in Portugal are the second highest in the European Union, just behind prices in Cyprus, indicates the study “Index of Digital Economy and Society 2021”, published by the European Commission, and cited by Anacom. Last year, Portugal was in 26th position in this ranking, having dropped two positions compared to the previous year.
The prices considered effects of the calculation of the Broadband Price Index were collected and calculated within the scope of a study promoted by the European Commission, having been considered as offers from Meo, Nos and Vodafone. In addition to analyzing broadband, the prices of bundled telecommunications packages, for example, are also compared.
This study below the prices of communications in Portugal in the category of “expensive” or “relatively expensive” in 12 of the 13 fixed broadband usage profiles; in 11 of the 12 mobile broadband usage profiles and in all 9 convergent usage profiles, explains the note from Anacom. In the case of certain mobile broadband offers, prices on the national market are between “27% and 115% above the EU average”, depending on the traffic ceiling considered.
In comparison with the lowest prices in the EU, found in countries like Poland or Romania, the prices charged in Portugal “are 5 to 7 times higher”. In the case of an offer of 0.5 GB of mobile data, without calls, it can cost 9.12 euros in Portugal, against 1.94 euros in Poland – a difference of 369%.
Already analyzing the cheapest offer of 1 GB, without calls, in Portugal it can cost 15.2 euros, against 1.94 also in Poland. In the European Union it costs an average of 8.13 euros.
With regard to mobile voice and Internet telephone offers, prices in Portugal were between 13% and 75% higher than the EU average for all usage profiles, with the exception of offers with lower traffic volume (500 MB + 30 calls ), where the difference was -1%.
Establishing again the comparison with the countries with the cheapest offers, in Portugal, an offer of 2 GB of data with 100 calls cost 15.2 euros, against 3.95 euros in Romania. On average, in the EU this type of offer cost €13.4, minus €1.8.
Fixed broadband at least 40% more in Portugal
These data also analyze the prices of isolated fixed broadband in Portugal, revealing that they were between 40% and 49% above the EU average, depending on the considered download speed. Deviations were higher for lower rates, notes Anacom.
Compared with the lowest prices in the EU, prices in Portugal are three to four times higher.
In the case of the cheapest fixed internet offer with speeds of up to 12 Mbps, in Portugal the consumer could spend 30.4 euros, against 7.61 euros in Lithuania, the cheapest offer. On average, in the EU this type of offer is around 20.49 euros.
The cheapest fixed internet offer with download speeds above 200 Mbps was found in Romania, with costs of 12.18 euros, against 41.23 euros in Portugal.
Portugal has prices above the European average for converging offers, the bundled bundles. The Commission study analyzes the 4P offer (fixed internet, fixed telephone, television and mobile services) and also 3P, noting that prices in Portugal are above the EU average.
Compared with the lowest prices in the EU, prices in Portugal are three times higher. The cheapest fixed Internet offer with download speed of 100-200 Mbps, landline telephone, TV, 1 SIM card, 300 calls and 5GB mobile data in the EU is 24.22 euros and costs 76.49 euros in Portugal, for example.
In the 3P offer, the cheapest fixed Internet offer with a download speed of 30-100 Mbps, landline telephone and TV available in the EU is 18.29 euros, in Romania, and costs 46.04 euros in Portugal.
“The misalignment of the evolution of prices that Portugal registers compared to the EU average has been observed for several years”, considers Anacom. “Between the end of 2009 and October 2021, telecommunications prices in Portugal increased by 8.3%, while in the EU they decreased by 9.7%”.