According to paragraph 3 of clause 20 of the Concession, the concessionaire has powers to open and close postal establishments and to alter the opening hours of postal establishments, taking into account the needs of the service and levels of demand.
CTT is only obliged to inform ICP-ANACOM of the decisions taken on this matter, and in cases of closure and reduction of opening hours of post offices, to give basis to their decisions in terms of need of service, levels of demand and the satisfaction of the communication needs of the population and economic activities.
In this context, it is noted that, in 2008, 15 notifications of post office closures were received, all replaced by postal service offices 1, and six reports of reduction of post office opening hours.
In 2008 a slight increase was seen in the total number of postal establishments, reversing the falling trend in place since 2002, although levelling off since 2005. This increase in the total number of establishments is due to the increased number of postal service offices, which more than offset the reduction in the number of post offices, which continues its downward trend (see Graph 41).
Graph 41. Number of postal establishments
1 According to CTT, postal service offices are establishments operated by third parties, in accordance with a contract, with all such establishments providing the postal services included in the US.
