Portugal's regulator tells telecoms groups not to obstruct Digi's entry

Nos SGPS SA

12/06/2024 15:27

By Sergio Goncalves
       LISBON, June 12 (Reuters) - The head of Portugal's
telecoms regulator ANACOM on Wednesday warned the country's
three major operators not to obstruct the entry of Romania's
Digi to the market ahead of the expected launch of its
commercial operations there later this year.  
    In Portugal, the bundled telecoms market - which includes
two or more services of fixed and mobile communications - is
controlled almost entirely by MEO - owned by the Altice group -
Portugal's NOS  NOS.LS  and Vodafone Portugal  VOD.N .
    Digi, which also operates in Spain and Italy in addition to
Romania, won a licence in October 2021 to launch 5G operations
in Portugal, where it will compete directly with the three major
players. 
    "It is expected that Digi's entry will take place by
November or, extending the deadline a bit, by the end of the
year", Sandra Maximiano told a parliamentary committee, adding
that ANACOM has held preparatory meetings with the company.
    She said that Digi has been building its own network, which
will allow it to offer 5G services and fixed fibre optic
telecommunications.
    However, she said it also has to negotiate access to
websites and television content and interconnections so its
customers can call or message through other telecoms providers. 
    "We really want the operators that are present today to not
obstruct Digi's entry by creating barriers," she said.
    Executives from the dominant operators have said that the
highly competitive market may not support a new competitor, but
Maximiano noted that no one would invest heavily in a market if
they did not expect a return on that investment. 
    "From an economic point of view, this is a clear sign that
there is space for (Digi)," she said.
    According to ANACOM data, there were 4.7 million subscribers
to bundled telecoms services in 2023, with Altice Portugal
holding a 41.6% share of the market, NOS 35.1% and Vodafone
Portugal a 20.6% share.
    

 (Reporting by Sergio Goncalves; Editing by David Latona,
Kirsten Donovan)
 ((sergio.goncalves@thomsonreuters.com; +351213509204; Reuters
Messaging: sergio.goncalves.reuters.com@reuters.net))