Governed by the principles of universality, equality, continuity and affordability, the provision of universal telecommunications service includes connection to the fixed telephone network and access to fixed telephone service, the provision of public payphones and the availability of telephone directories and a directory enquiry information service that includes the numbers of subscribers to fixed telephone service and mobile telephone service. PT Comunicações was designated the universal service provider and signed with the State a concession contract for public telecommunications service.
The Price Convention currently governs the price regime for universal service for Universal Telecommunications Service signed by the Directorate General of Trade and Competition (DGCC), ICP-ANACOM and PT Comunicações on 30 December 2002. The Convention also determines the obligations of PT Comunicações with respect to low-income pensioners and retired customers, low-consumption residential customers and customers with special needs. Fulfilling the goal of progressively adjusting prices to costs, this Convention envisages for fixed telephone service customers in 2003 an average nominal weighted price variation of not more than IPC-2.75 p.p. for domestic calls.
Regarding the universal service financing mechanism, in 2002 ICP-ANACOM approved a decision on the conditions for providing telephone directory service and directory enquiry service, also applicable to mobile telephone service operators; evaluation of the set of obligations envisaged in this context was begun.
With respect to analysis of universal telecommunications service costs, the probable outcome of the decision on the costs of the obligation to provide universal service was approved in September 2002, based on non-acceptance of the application of any compensation mechanisms for the period prior to full telecommunications market liberalisation.
Also approved in 2002 was the report from the public consultation on the provision of public payphones by the universal service provider, under which PT Comunicações was asked to supply information related to the offer of that service.
