Portugal Closing in on National Fibre Coverage
Portugal completes protracted 5G auction, sees new market entrants
Portugal’s mobile market has long been dominated by the triopoly of Altice Portugal, NOS, and Vodafone Portugal. The MVNOs collectively have only managed to secure about 3% of the market, by subscribers. This dominance of the main players is expected to be reduced following the auction recently completed by the regulator, which saw the market entry of Dixarobil and Nowo. Both will provide 5G services. The auction marked the entry of Romania’s Digi in Portugal’s mobile market, as also of Másmóvil which had hitherto focussed on fibre deployment in Lisbon and Oporto.
Table of Contents
Key statistics
Country overview
Appendix Historic dataGlossary of abbreviationsRelated reports
Regional Europe Market Comparison
- Market characteristics
- Market Leaders
- Market Challengers
- Market Emergents
- TMI versus GDP
- Mobile and mobile broadband penetration
- Fixed versus mobile broadband penetration
COVID-19 and its impact on the telecom sector
- Economic considerations and responses
- Subscribers
- Infrastructure
Telecommunications market
- Market analysis
Regulatory environment
- Historic overview
- Regulatory authority
- Fixed-line developments
- Mobile network developments
Mobile market
- Market analysis
- Mobile statistics
- Mobile voice
- Mobile data
- Mobile broadband
- Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
- Internet-of-Things (IoT)
- Mobile infrastructure
- Major mobile operators
- Mobile content and applications
Fixed-line broadband market
- Market analysis
- Broadband statistics
- Hybrid Fibre Coax (HFC) networks
- Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) networks
- Fibre-to-the-Premises (FttP)
- Other fixed broadband services
Fixed network operators
- Introduction
- Altice Portugal
- Oni Communications
- Sonaecom
- AR Telecom
- NOS
- Vodafone
Telecommunications infrastructure
- National telecom network
- International infrastructure
- Data centres
List of Tables
Table 1 Top Level Country Statistics and Telco Authorities - Portugal 2021 (e)
Table 2 Change in the number of pre-selection, call-by-call, and VoIP connections 2009-2020
Table 3 Increase in fixed direct telephone customers and penetration 2011-2020
Table 4 Change in Altice Portugal's share of direct access customers 2011-2020
Table 5 Cumulative ported fixed-line and mobile numbers 2009-2020
Table 6 Multiband auction results 2012
Table 7 Roaming in call traffic volume and messages 2009-2020
Table 8 Change in the number of annual mobile number portings 2010-2018
Table 9 MTRs 2009-2012; 2016, 2018 - 2020
Table 10 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 11 Development of mobile sector revenue 2009-2019
Table 12 Market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2010-2020
Table 13 Change in mobile prepaid subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Table 14 Decline in mobile ARPU 2010-2020
Table 15 Change in outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2010-2020
Table 16 Decline in SMS messages sent annually 2009-2020
Table 17 Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2010-2020
Table 18 Decline in the number of MMS messages per subscriber 2010-2019
Table 19 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 20 Development of mobile broadband revenue 2010-2019
Table 21 Fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic per month per customer 2010-2020
Table 22 Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2010 2020
Table 23 Strong growth in the number of M2M connections 2012-2020
Table 24 Evolution of MEO's mobile subscriber base 2010-2020
Table 25 Development of MEO's mobile revenue 2010-2020
Table 26 Change in MEO's revenue by quarter 2016-2020
Table 27 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's mobile subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Table 28 Development of Vodafone Portugal's ARPU: prepaid, contract, blended 2010-2020
Table 29 Change in Vodafone Portugal's financial data (year to Mar) 2010-2021
Table 30 Evolution in NOS's mobile subscriber base 2009-2020
Table 31 Development of multi-play services revenue ( million) 2015-2020
Table 32 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 33 Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2008-2020
Table 34 Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2008-2020
Table 35 Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2010-2019
Table 36 Share of fixed broadband accesses by operator 2010-2020
Table 37 Evolution of fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic 2008-2020
Table 38 Growth in the number of NOS's cable broadband subscribers 2009-2020
Table 39 Change in the number of MEO's broadband subscribers by platform 2012-2020
Table 40 Growth in the number of FttP/B connected premises 2010-2017
Table 41 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2008-2020
Table 42 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's fixed-line broadband subscribers 2011 2020
Table 43 Total fixed-telephony service revenue 2012-2020
Table 44 Decline in fixed-telephony traffic 2010 2020
Table 45 Change in the share of fixed-line accesses by operator 2010-2020
Table 46 Change in the number of Altice Portugal's fixed accesses by sector 2012-2020
Table 47 Development of Altice Portugal's financial data 2014-2020
Table 48 Development of Altice Portugal's revenue by service 2010-2020
Table 49 Development of Sonaecom's financial data 2010-2020
Table 50 Development of NOS's financial data (million) 2012-2020
Table 51 Change in the number of NOS's subscribers by platform 2009-2020
Table 52 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Table 53 Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2010-2020
Table 54 Change in the number of VoIP and mobile voice accesses 2009-2020
Table 55 International internet bandwidth 2006-2019
Table 56 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1999-2009
Table 57 Historic - Internet users and penetration 2000-2016
Table 58 Historic Fixed broadband subscribers by type 2000-2009
Table 59 Historic Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2000-2008
Table 60 Historic Share of broadband accesses by operator (old format) 2010-2014
Table 61 Historic - Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2002-2009
Table 62 Historic Proportion of broadband subscribers by data rate (Mb/s) 2010-2016
Table 63 Historic Mobile subscribers and penetration 2000-2009
Table 64 Historic Accumulated mobile number portings 2002-2008
Table 65 Historic Outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2002-2009
Table 66 Historic Mobile broadband revenue 2007-2015
Table 67 Historic Decline in Altice Portugal's share of direct access customers 2005-2009
Table 68 Historic Sonaecom financial data 2006-2009
Table 69 Historic Sonaecom financial data (old format) 2006-2012
Table 70 Historic Sonaecom fixed-line subscribers by sector (historic) 2008-2012
Table 71 Historic Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2005-2009
Table 72 Historic International internet bandwidth 2006-2009
Table 73 Historic Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2000-2007
Table 74 Historic Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2000-2007
Table 75 Historic Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2002-2009
Table 76 Historic Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2002-2009
Table 77 Historic Steady market share among mobile operators 2004-2009
Table 78 Historic Steady market share among mobile operators 2006-2009
Table 79 Historic Long-term drop in 3G video calls and traffic 2007-2009
Table 80 Historic Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2007-2009
Table 81 Historic Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2007-2009
Table 82 Historic Decline in MMS messages per subscriber 2007-2009
Table 83 Historic Change in Vodafone Portugal subscribers, proportion prepaid 2006-2009
Table 84 Historic Change in Vodafone financial data in GBP (year to Mar) 2007-2016
Table 85 Historic Mobile broadband revenue 2007-2009
Table 86 Historic Total fixed-telephony service revenue 2003-2009
Table 2 Change in the number of pre-selection, call-by-call, and VoIP connections 2009-2020
Table 3 Increase in fixed direct telephone customers and penetration 2011-2020
Table 4 Change in Altice Portugal's share of direct access customers 2011-2020
Table 5 Cumulative ported fixed-line and mobile numbers 2009-2020
Table 6 Multiband auction results 2012
Table 7 Roaming in call traffic volume and messages 2009-2020
Table 8 Change in the number of annual mobile number portings 2010-2018
Table 9 MTRs 2009-2012; 2016, 2018 - 2020
Table 10 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 11 Development of mobile sector revenue 2009-2019
Table 12 Market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2010-2020
Table 13 Change in mobile prepaid subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Table 14 Decline in mobile ARPU 2010-2020
Table 15 Change in outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2010-2020
Table 16 Decline in SMS messages sent annually 2009-2020
Table 17 Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2010-2020
Table 18 Decline in the number of MMS messages per subscriber 2010-2019
Table 19 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 20 Development of mobile broadband revenue 2010-2019
Table 21 Fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic per month per customer 2010-2020
Table 22 Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2010 2020
Table 23 Strong growth in the number of M2M connections 2012-2020
Table 24 Evolution of MEO's mobile subscriber base 2010-2020
Table 25 Development of MEO's mobile revenue 2010-2020
Table 26 Change in MEO's revenue by quarter 2016-2020
Table 27 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's mobile subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Table 28 Development of Vodafone Portugal's ARPU: prepaid, contract, blended 2010-2020
Table 29 Change in Vodafone Portugal's financial data (year to Mar) 2010-2021
Table 30 Evolution in NOS's mobile subscriber base 2009-2020
Table 31 Development of multi-play services revenue ( million) 2015-2020
Table 32 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Table 33 Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2008-2020
Table 34 Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2008-2020
Table 35 Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2010-2019
Table 36 Share of fixed broadband accesses by operator 2010-2020
Table 37 Evolution of fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic 2008-2020
Table 38 Growth in the number of NOS's cable broadband subscribers 2009-2020
Table 39 Change in the number of MEO's broadband subscribers by platform 2012-2020
Table 40 Growth in the number of FttP/B connected premises 2010-2017
Table 41 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2008-2020
Table 42 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's fixed-line broadband subscribers 2011 2020
Table 43 Total fixed-telephony service revenue 2012-2020
Table 44 Decline in fixed-telephony traffic 2010 2020
Table 45 Change in the share of fixed-line accesses by operator 2010-2020
Table 46 Change in the number of Altice Portugal's fixed accesses by sector 2012-2020
Table 47 Development of Altice Portugal's financial data 2014-2020
Table 48 Development of Altice Portugal's revenue by service 2010-2020
Table 49 Development of Sonaecom's financial data 2010-2020
Table 50 Development of NOS's financial data (million) 2012-2020
Table 51 Change in the number of NOS's subscribers by platform 2009-2020
Table 52 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Table 53 Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2010-2020
Table 54 Change in the number of VoIP and mobile voice accesses 2009-2020
Table 55 International internet bandwidth 2006-2019
Table 56 Historic - Fixed lines in service and teledensity 1999-2009
Table 57 Historic - Internet users and penetration 2000-2016
Table 58 Historic Fixed broadband subscribers by type 2000-2009
Table 59 Historic Fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2000-2008
Table 60 Historic Share of broadband accesses by operator (old format) 2010-2014
Table 61 Historic - Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2002-2009
Table 62 Historic Proportion of broadband subscribers by data rate (Mb/s) 2010-2016
Table 63 Historic Mobile subscribers and penetration 2000-2009
Table 64 Historic Accumulated mobile number portings 2002-2008
Table 65 Historic Outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2002-2009
Table 66 Historic Mobile broadband revenue 2007-2015
Table 67 Historic Decline in Altice Portugal's share of direct access customers 2005-2009
Table 68 Historic Sonaecom financial data 2006-2009
Table 69 Historic Sonaecom financial data (old format) 2006-2012
Table 70 Historic Sonaecom fixed-line subscribers by sector (historic) 2008-2012
Table 71 Historic Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2005-2009
Table 72 Historic International internet bandwidth 2006-2009
Table 73 Historic Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2000-2007
Table 74 Historic Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2000-2007
Table 75 Historic Broadband subscriber annual change year-on-year 2002-2009
Table 76 Historic Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2002-2009
Table 77 Historic Steady market share among mobile operators 2004-2009
Table 78 Historic Steady market share among mobile operators 2006-2009
Table 79 Historic Long-term drop in 3G video calls and traffic 2007-2009
Table 80 Historic Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2007-2009
Table 81 Historic Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2007-2009
Table 82 Historic Decline in MMS messages per subscriber 2007-2009
Table 83 Historic Change in Vodafone Portugal subscribers, proportion prepaid 2006-2009
Table 84 Historic Change in Vodafone financial data in GBP (year to Mar) 2007-2016
Table 85 Historic Mobile broadband revenue 2007-2009
Table 86 Historic Total fixed-telephony service revenue 2003-2009
List of Charts
Chart 1 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Leaders
Chart 2 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 3 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 4 Europe - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 Europe Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 Scandinavia/Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Change in the number of pre-selection, call-by-call, and VoIP connections 2009-2020
Chart 11 Increase in fixed direct telephone customers and penetration 2011-2020
Chart 12 Change in Altice Portugal's share of direct access customers 2010-2020
Chart 13 Roaming in call traffic volume and messages 2009-2020
Chart 14 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 15 Development of mobile sector revenue 2010-2019
Chart 16 Market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2010-2020
Chart 17 Change in mobile prepaid subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Chart 18 Decline in mobile ARPU 2010-2020
Chart 19 Change in outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2010-2020
Chart 20 Decline in SMS messages sent annually 2010-2020
Chart 21 Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2010-2020
Chart 22 Decline in the number of MMS messages per subscriber 2010-2019
Chart 23 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 24 Development of mobile broadband revenue 2010-2019
Chart 25 Fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic per month per customer 2010-2020
Chart 26 Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2010 2020
Chart 27 Strong growth in the number of M2M connections 2012-2020
Chart 28 Evolution of MEO's mobile subscriber base 2010-2020
Chart 29 Development of MEO's mobile revenue 2010-2020
Chart 30 Change in MEO's revenue by quarter 2016-2020
Chart 31 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's mobile subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Chart 32 Development of Vodafone Portugal's ARPU: prepaid, contract, blended 2010-2020
Chart 33 Change in Vodafone Portugal's financial data (year to Mar) 2010-2021
Chart 34 Evolution in NOS's mobile subscriber base 2009-2020
Chart 35 Development of multi-play services revenue 2015-2020
Chart 36 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 37 Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2010-2020
Chart 38 Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2010-2020
Chart 39 Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2010-2019
Chart 40 Share of fixed broadband accesses by operator 2013-2020
Chart 41 Evolution of fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic 2011-2020
Chart 42 Growth in the number of NOS's cable broadband subscribers 2010-2020
Chart 43 Change in the number of MEO's broadband subscribers by platform 2012-2020
Chart 44 Growth in the number of FttP/B connected premises 2010-2017
Chart 45 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2010-2020
Chart 46 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's fixed-line broadband subscribers 2011 2020
Chart 47 Decline in fixed-telephony traffic 2010 2020
Chart 48 Change in the share of fixed-line accesses by operator 2010-2020
Chart 49 Change in the number of Altice Portugal's fixed accesses by sector 2012-2020
Chart 50 Development of Altice Portugal's financial data 2014-2020
Chart 51 Development of Altice Portugal's revenue by service 2010-2020
Chart 52 Development of Sonaecom's financial data 2010-2020
Chart 53 Development of NOS's financial data 2012-2020
Chart 54 Change in the number of NOS's subscribers by platform 2010-2020
Chart 55 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Chart 56 Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2010-2020
Chart 57 Change in the number of VoIP and mobile voice accesses 2010-2020
Chart 2 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Challengers
Chart 3 Europe Telecoms Maturity Index Market Emergents
Chart 4 Europe - Telecoms Maturity Index vs GDP per capita
Chart 5 Europe Mobile subscriber penetration vs mobile broadband penetration
Chart 6 Scandinavia/Baltics fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 7 Northern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 8 Eastern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 9 Southern Europe fixed and mobile broadband penetration
Chart 10 Change in the number of pre-selection, call-by-call, and VoIP connections 2009-2020
Chart 11 Increase in fixed direct telephone customers and penetration 2011-2020
Chart 12 Change in Altice Portugal's share of direct access customers 2010-2020
Chart 13 Roaming in call traffic volume and messages 2009-2020
Chart 14 Change in the number of mobile subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 15 Development of mobile sector revenue 2010-2019
Chart 16 Market share of mobile subscribers by operator 2010-2020
Chart 17 Change in mobile prepaid subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Chart 18 Decline in mobile ARPU 2010-2020
Chart 19 Change in outgoing mobile calls and traffic volume 2010-2020
Chart 20 Decline in SMS messages sent annually 2010-2020
Chart 21 Decline in SMS messages per subscriber sent quarterly (Q4) 2010-2020
Chart 22 Decline in the number of MMS messages per subscriber 2010-2019
Chart 23 Growth in the number of active mobile broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 24 Development of mobile broadband revenue 2010-2019
Chart 25 Fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic per month per customer 2010-2020
Chart 26 Continuing strong growth in mobile internet traffic 2010 2020
Chart 27 Strong growth in the number of M2M connections 2012-2020
Chart 28 Evolution of MEO's mobile subscriber base 2010-2020
Chart 29 Development of MEO's mobile revenue 2010-2020
Chart 30 Change in MEO's revenue by quarter 2016-2020
Chart 31 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's mobile subscribers, proportion prepaid 2010-2020
Chart 32 Development of Vodafone Portugal's ARPU: prepaid, contract, blended 2010-2020
Chart 33 Change in Vodafone Portugal's financial data (year to Mar) 2010-2021
Chart 34 Evolution in NOS's mobile subscriber base 2009-2020
Chart 35 Development of multi-play services revenue 2015-2020
Chart 36 Growth in the number of fixed broadband subscribers and penetration 2011-2026
Chart 37 Evolution in broadband subscribers by access type 2010-2020
Chart 38 Proportion of broadband subscribers by access type 2010-2020
Chart 39 Evolution of fixed broadband penetration by platform 2010-2019
Chart 40 Share of fixed broadband accesses by operator 2013-2020
Chart 41 Evolution of fixed-line and mobile broadband traffic 2011-2020
Chart 42 Growth in the number of NOS's cable broadband subscribers 2010-2020
Chart 43 Change in the number of MEO's broadband subscribers by platform 2012-2020
Chart 44 Growth in the number of FttP/B connected premises 2010-2017
Chart 45 Growth in the number of fibre broadband subscribers 2010-2020
Chart 46 Change in the number of Vodafone Portugal's fixed-line broadband subscribers 2011 2020
Chart 47 Decline in fixed-telephony traffic 2010 2020
Chart 48 Change in the share of fixed-line accesses by operator 2010-2020
Chart 49 Change in the number of Altice Portugal's fixed accesses by sector 2012-2020
Chart 50 Development of Altice Portugal's financial data 2014-2020
Chart 51 Development of Altice Portugal's revenue by service 2010-2020
Chart 52 Development of Sonaecom's financial data 2010-2020
Chart 53 Development of NOS's financial data 2012-2020
Chart 54 Change in the number of NOS's subscribers by platform 2010-2020
Chart 55 Fixed lines in service and teledensity 2011-2026
Chart 56 Change in the number and type of analogue and digital access lines 2010-2020
Chart 57 Change in the number of VoIP and mobile voice accesses 2010-2020
List of Exhibits
Exhibit 1 Map of Telecom Maturity Index global ranking among countries in Europe
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Europe Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Europe Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Europe Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 Submarine cable network links to Portugal in 2021
Exhibit 7 2Africa landing stations
Exhibit 2 Generalised Market Characteristics by Market Segment
Exhibit 3 Europe Market Leaders and market developments
Exhibit 4 Europe Market Challengers and market developments
Exhibit 5 Europe Market Emergents and market developments
Exhibit 6 Submarine cable network links to Portugal in 2021
Exhibit 7 2Africa landing stations
