Chronology of Communications 2012

- ANACOM's website received around one million visits in 2012 [December]

- COM.escolha simulator received 45,781 visits in 2012 [December]

- ANACOM's consumers' website received over 113 thousand visits in 2012 [December]

- Publication of Council of Ministers Resolution no. 112/2012 of 31 December, approving the Digital Agenda Portugal initiative, which aims to stimulate the digital economy and the information, electronics and communication technologies sector through the use and development of products and tradable and competitive services for international markets [December]

- The European Commission approves new guidelines on the allocation of state aid to the broadband sector and adopts seven new priorities for the digital economy and society which will enable Member States to achieve the targets established by the Digital Agenda for Europe initiative  [December]

- New International Telecommunication Regulations formulated at ITU World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12) fails to achieve consensus and is left unsigned by several countries, including Portugal. [December]

- Publication of European Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) no. 1203/2012 of 14 December on the separate sale of regulated retail roaming services within the Union [December]

- Publication of Commission Recommendation 2012/798/EU of 12 December 2012 on the notification procedure provided for in Article 22(3) of Directive 2002/22/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on universal service and users' rights relating to electronic communications networks and services [December]

- ANACOM repeals the right of use of frequencies for fixed wireless access (FWA) held by Optimus, with effect from 31.12.2012 [December]

- The European Commission (EC) launches public consultation on the Green Paper on the delivery of parcels in the European Union [December]

- European Commission proposes a directive, as part of the development of the Digital Agenda, to make government websites universally accessible [December]

- Fixed telephone service - approval of 2013 tariff [December]

- ANACOM approves the report of the public consultation on telex services, fixed switched data transmission, telegraph and maritime mobile component of public correspondence, provided by the public telecommunications concessionaire (PT Comunicações), and issues recommendations to the Government [November]

- ANACOM approves the values to be considered in the formula used to calculate the fees due in respect of the activity of supplier of electronic communications networks and services in 2012 [November]

- DTT - ANACOM approves decision to renew the temporary digital terrestrial television (DTT) network license granted to PT Comunicações (PTC) (for a further 180 days, with effect from 15 November) [November]

- ANACOM approves the final decision on the list of parishes as tend to lack mobile broadband coverage, for the purposes of Regulation no. 560-A/2011 of 19 October [November]

- Government extends the deadline for applications to the three tenders to select the company or companies designated to provide the universal service of electronic communications [November]

- DTT - GAM-TD - Grupo de Acompanhamento da Migração para a Televisão Digital (Digital Television Migration Monitoring Group) publishes the final report on the transition from the analogue system to the digital terrestrial television broadcasting service in Portugal [November]

- Publication of European Commission Implementing Decision 2012/688/EU of 5 November 2012 on the harmonisation of the bands 1920-1980/2110-2170 MHz for terrestrial systems capable of providing electronic communications services in the Union [November]

- ANACOM releases the Global Accessibility Reporting Initiative (GARI) on its website - a database including the technical features, according to European, American and Australian standards, which make it possible to identify the equipment best suited to different types of special needs [November]

- Publication of Regulation (EU) no. 1025/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 October, on European Standardisation [October]

- Publication of Commission Communication 2012/ C 321/02 of 23 October, on radio equipment and telecommunications terminal equipment and the mutual recognition of their conformity [October]

- Portugal established as a vice-chairman of the ITU World Conference on International Telecommunications (WCIT-12), held from 3 to 14 December 2012 in Dubai (United Arab Emirates): ANACOM representative established among vice-chairmen of world conference, representing Europe. [October]

- European Commission launches public consultation on the review of the current recommendation on relevant markets, as part of the development of the Digital Agenda [October]

- Government launches public consultation to assess the extent to which it remains necessary and/or appropriate to maintain the provision of fixed telex, switched data transmission, telegraph and mobile maritime services as regards their public correspondence component, in terms of public service (closed 31 October) [October]

- ANACOM approves the final decision on the implementation of the concept of "unusually high access costs" in the context of the methodology used to calculate the CLSU - custos líquidos do serviço universal (net costs of the universal service) [October]

- ANACOM launches consultation on the rules governing use of numbers for information services (closed on 27 November) [October]

- Government launches three public tenders for the selection of the company or companies designated to provide the universal service of electronic communications [October]

- COM.escolha receives about 12,000 visits in the third quarter of 2012 [October]

- ANACOM launches a public tender to develop and implement a fixed termination costing model [October]

- ANACOM approves the final decision on the revision of the calculation of the cost of capital of CTT - Correios de Portugal as regards the 2011 financial year [October]

- European Commission announces new strategy to boost the use of cloud computing across all sectors of the economy [October]

- Government extends deadline of the public consultation to define the measures proposed for the Nova Agenda Digital (New Digital Agenda) (closed on 12 October) [October]

- ANACOM launches information campaign on the new portability rules [October]

- Government launches consultation to define the measures proposed for the national Nova Agenda Digital (New Digital Agenda) [September]

- Entry into force of new portability rules approved under Regulation no. 114/2012 of 13 March, amending the Regulamento da Portabilidade (Portability Regulation) [September 13]

- ANACOM approves decision on the proposed new tariffs for non-reserved postal services, as provided by CTT - Correios de Portugal, to take effect from 1 October 2012 [September]

- ANACOM authorizes the accumulation, by a single provider, of resources under the "67" code from the Plano Nacional de Numeração (National Numbering Plan) as a result of merger and/or acquisition [August]

- ANACOM approves the final decision on the revision of the calculation of the cost of capital of PT Comunicações, as applicable in 2011 [August]

- Publication of Law no. 46/2012 of 29 August, transposing Directive no. 2009/136/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 26 November 2009, in so far as it amends Directive no. 2002/58/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 12 July concerning the processing of personal data and the protection of privacy in the electronic communications sector, enacting the first amendment to Law no. 41/2004 of 18 August and the second amendment to Decree-Law no. 7/2004 of 7 January [August]

- Publication of Law no. 36/2012 of 27 August, enacting the first amendment to Law no. 6/97 of 1 March, which authorises the broadcasting of parliamentary sessions on public and private cable TV networks, enabling them to be made available via digital terrestrial television [August]

- Publication of Resolution of Assembleia da República (Assembly of the Republic) no. 122/2012 of 27 August, on the Parliament Channel on DTT [August]

- ANACOM approves final decision on new statistical indicators for postal services [August]

- DTT - ANACOM approves final decision on the extension, until 31 December 2012, of the duration of the subsidy and reimbursement programmes [August]

- Publication of Law no. 35/2012 of 23 August, which establishes a compensation fund for the electronic communications universal service, provided for in the Electronic Communications Law, for the financing of net costs arising from the provision of the universal service [August]

- Publication of Regulation no. 355/2012 of 13 August, which amends the regulation governing the settlement and collection of fees due to ANACOM [August]

- Publication of Resolution of Council of Ministers no. 66/2012 of 6 August, amending Resolution of Council of Ministers no. 50/2012 of 22 May, which approves the contracting of the provision of the universal service of electronic communications, defines the respective tender procedures and authorises the inherent expenditure [August]

- European Commission launches public consultations as regards the development of the Digital Agenda: network and information security and network neutrality [July]

- Publication of Administrative Rule no. 218/2012 of 19 July, executing delivery to the State treasuries of the proceeds of the auction conducted to allocate rights of use of frequencies in the 450 MHz, 800 MHz, 900 MHz, 1800 MHz , 2.1 GHz and 2.6 GHz bands [July]

- Attorney General of the Republic and electronic communications operators (Optimus, PT Comunicações, TMN, Vodafone and ZON) sign a protocol of mutual cooperation in combating cyber crime and collecting digital evidence [July]

- ANACOM re-launches "Roaming Light" information campaign [July]

- Entry into force of Regulation (EU) no. 531/2012 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 13 June 2012 on communications in roaming, which establishes reductions in the maximum prices charged for voice communications and for short message service (SMS) sending and, for the first time, establishes maximum prices for data services [July]

- COM.escolha records about 10,000 visits in the second quarter of 2012

- The ANACOM site on the Internet records more than 500,000 visits in the first half of 2012

- ANACOM reviews the determinations relating to the accounting of financial costs and the allocation of costs associated with the transfer of the former Marconi, issuing a decision regarding the treatment of this matter on the results of the analytical accounting system (AAS) of PT Comunicações (PTC), 2011 [June]

- ANACOM approved the implementation of the Decisions of the European Commission (EC) 2011/829/UE (SRD) of December 8th 2011, and 2011/485/UE (SRR 24 GHz) of July 29th 2011, by incorporation in the National Frequency Allocation Plan (NFAP) 2010/2011 [June]

- ANACOM approves final decision on changes to the leased lines reference offer (LLRO) and the Ethernet circuits reference offer (ECRO) [June]

- European Commission launches public consultation on procedures for removing and blocking access to illegal content [June]

- European Commission launches version 6 of the Internet Protocol (IPv6), which allows driving innovation in the field of new Internet services and applications [June]

- European Commission launches a public consultation for the revised Guidelines on the application of Community rules on state aid to public funding of broadband networks [June]

- EU Council approves the 3rd Regulation on international roaming [May]

- Government presents draft law 60/XII to Parliament for the creation of a compensation fund for the universal service of electronic communications provided for in the Electronic Communications Law (ECL) for the financing of net costs resulting from the provision of the universal service [May]

- Council of Ministers approves the appointment of new members of the ANACOM board: Fátima Barros (President), José Perdigoto (vice president), João Confraria (councillor) and Helder Vasconcelos (councillor) [May]

- ANACOM approves the renewal, for a period of 15 years, of the rights to use frequencies assigned to Optimus in the frequency band of 900 and 1800 MHz [May]

- Resolution of the Council of Ministers nr. 50/2012 dated May 22nd is published, approving the hiring of the provision of universal service in electronic communications, defining the terms of the respective tender procedures and authorizing the inherent expenditure [May]

- Council of Ministers approves draft law to create the compensation fund for universal service in electronic communications, for the financing of net costs of universal service [May]

- 28,984 .pt domains registered in the first week of liberalization [May]

- European Commission sets out strategy for safer Internet for children and youth [May]

- ANACOM approves amendment to Portability Specification [April]

- European Commission launches consultation on the reduction of broadband installation costs [May]

- ANACOM approves final decision on the specification of the obligation to control prices in the wholesale markets for voice call termination on individual mobile networks [May]

- Directorate-General Society of Information and Media changes its name to DG Connect [May]

- Final transition to the digital terrestrial television [DTT], corresponding to the third and final phase of the plan for termination of analogue terrestrial television (plan for switch-off) [April]

- Law nr. 17/2012 of April 26th is published, establishing the legal regime for the provision of postal services in the country as well as international services originating or terminating in the country [April]

- European Commission launches consultation on the rules of the Internet of Things [April]

- Government launches consultation on the compensation fund for the universal service in electronic communications [April]

- ANACOM approves decisions resolving border disputes between the European Directory Assistance (EDA) and ZON, Optimus, Cabovisão and AR Telecom, on matters of telephone lists [April]

- DTT - ANACOM launches third wave of the information campaign [April]

- Termination of duties, upon request, of José Ferrari Careto, member of the board of directors of ANACOM (by order of the Minister of Economy and Employment) [March]

- ANACOM launches consultation on renewal of the rights of use of Optimus frequencies on 900 and 1800 MHz [March]

- ANACOM assumes vice-presidency of the Euro-Mediterranean network of Regulators (EMERG) [March]

- DTT - Second phase of the definitive transition to DTT occurs on all islands of the Azores and Madeira, with the switch off of analogue transmitters [March]

- Marking World Consumer Rights Day, ANACOM publishes a new guide for consumers: "Problems with your provider? Find out what to do and who can help" [March]

- ANACOM's Consumers' Website marks a year since its launch, with over 77,000 visits and nearly 274,000 page views [March]

- ANACOM publishes document on the methodology to be used for calculating the net cost of the universal service of electronic communications [March]

- ANACOM approves the following final decisions:

• Procedures required in the termination of contracts by subscribers [March]
   
• Pricing of the television signal (terrestrial) distribution and broadcasting (analogue) service, as charged by PT Comunicações [March]
   
• Procedures to be followed in assessing the quality of service of regulated wholesale offers [March]

- DTT - ANACOM approves subsidy for installations required to receive the terrestrial digital signal (DTT) and alteration of the value of DTH Kit, extending to the second set-top box [March]

- ANACOM issues unified titles to Optimus, TMN and Vodafone Portugal following the multi-band auction [March]

- ANACOM approves Amending Regulation to the Regulamento da Portabilidade (Portability Regulation) [March]

- ANACOM publishes study "Mobile Broadband in Portugal - means of access, types of usage and differences compared to fixed broadband" [March]

- Approval given to the first radio spectrum policy programme for the European Union (EU) [February]

- In partnership with ANAFRE - Associação Nacional de Freguesias (National Association of Parishes) and in collaboration with the Serviço Regional de Defesa do Consumidor (Regional Consumer Protection Office), ANACOM organises a series of information sessions in Madeira focusing on migration to DTT [February]

- DTT - Completion of first phase of the switch off of analogue terrestrial television in mainland Portugal with the closure of the transmitter at São Macário and associated relays [February]

- ANACOM publishes leaflet on financial support available for purchasing DTT reception equipment (set-top box or DTH kit) [February]

- The first World Radio Day is marked [February]

- Approval given to the report of the public consultation on the process of designating the provider(s) of the universal service of electronic communications, launched by the Government in cooperation with ANACOM. ANACOM approves decisions on the net costs of the universal service [February]

- DTT - ANACOM and Câmara Municipal do Porto (Porto Municipal Council) conclude cooperation protocol [January]

- ANACOM publishes evaluation study on the quality of voice and video-telephone services and of mobile network coverage provided by the GSM and WCDMA (UMTS) networks of OPTIMUS, TMN and VODAFONE in the main urban centres and along the main roads of Portugal's autonomous regions of Azores and Madeira [January]

- ANACOM approves change to the value of the Supplementary DTT Kit (DTH) with respect to the first set-top box [January]

- DTT - The switch-off of analogue terrestrial television begins in mainland Portugal [January]

- Conclusion of multiband auction, which raised a final value of 372 million euros from the bidders involved (Optimus, TMN and Vodafone) [January]