Telecommunications prices in Portugal increased by 3.9 per cent in July compared to the same period last year, despite remaining unchanged compared to June, the National Communications Authority (Anacom) said on Monday in a statement.
“In July 2023, telecoms prices, measured by the respective Consumer Price Index (CPI) group, did not change compared to the previous month,” it said.
However, compared to the same month last year, prices increased by 3.9 per cent, and “this change in telecommunications prices was 0.9 percentage points (p.p.) higher than the CPI (3.1 per cent),” said Anacom.
According to the regulator, “the average rate of change in telecoms prices over the last 12 months was 2.6 per cent, or 4.7 p.p. below that recorded by the CPI (7.3 per cent)”.
The organisation also detailed that, according to Eurostat, the average rates of change in Portugal over the last 12 months were “4.2% for bundled services and 1.4% for mobile telephone services”.
Compared to the European Union (EU), Portugal’s average rate of change in telecoms prices over the last 12 months was 1.9 p.p. higher than in the European bloc.
Anacom noted that “in relation to the same month of the previous year, and by provider, Meo increased the monthly fee of eight services/offers while NOS increased the monthly fee of ten services/offers”.
In turn, “Vodafone increased the minimum monthly charge for all 13 services/offers considered” and “Nowo decreased the monthly charge for six services/offers (as a result of increasing the value of the discount during the first 6 months) and increased the monthly charge for two services/offers”.
According to Anacom, Portugal recorded the tenth highest price variation among EU countries, with average telecoms prices in Europe increasing by 0.7 per cent.
Breaking down by type of offer, the average rates of change over the last 12 months in the prices of bundled services and mobile telephone services in Portugal “were both 2.1 p.p. higher than the EU average”, it said.
Anacom also said that “from a long-term perspective and in accumulated terms, telecoms prices have grown by 16.7 per cent since the end of 2010 while the CPI has grown by 24.2 per cent”.
Finally, the regulator pointed out that “between the end of 2009 and July 2023, telecoms prices in Portugal increased by 14.6 per cent, while in the EU they fell by 8.5 per cent”.
Revenues from bundled communications services up 8.8% in 1st half to 1,004 ME
