Market survey: broadband penetration in Portugal lags behind European Union average
FEBRUARY 19, 2010 -- Broadband penetration in Portugal remains below the European Union average, though mobile penetration is among the highest in Europe, report market analysts at Research and Markets in Dublin.
Portugal's telecoms market is expected to grow by an average 3 percent annually for the next two to three years, largely bolstered by the broadband and 3G sectors. The telecommunications equipment market is expected to have the highest average annual growth rate at about 4 percent, Research and Markets analysts say in the report “Portugal -- Telecoms, IP Networks, Digital Media and Forecasts.”
Portugal Telecom retains a two-thirds share of the voice market, dominates the DSL market, and remains the leading operator in the mobile sector, despite competition and an effective LLU regime.
This annual report provides a overview of trends and developments in Portugal's telecommunications market, and analyzes trends and developments in telecommunications, mobile, Internet, broadband, digital TV, and converging media including VoIP, VoD, and IPTV.
Highlights of the report include:
-- the telecom market investment has shown renewed vigor since 2007, as government stimulus funds earmarked for 2010 and 2011 help develop the country's fiber-based all-IP infrastructure;
-- the value of the fixed-line sector continue to fall in 2010 under the impact of cheaper mobile call rates and the wider use of VoIP;
-- in common with EC-wide measures, the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands are expected to be assigned for 3G services in 2010, following longstanding UMTS 900 trials by Vodafone and Optimus; and
-- government broadband initiatives aimed at doubling the number of broadband households by the end of 2010 will be bolstered by 1 billion from state funds, which is expected to be matched by a further 1.5 billion from the private sector.