On 10 January, Resolution of the Council of Ministers Resolution no. 2/2013 was published, determining that, from 30 April 2013, provision of the maritime mobile service in Portugal as a public service is to be discontinued, whereby the payment obligation in respect of negative operating margins, established pursuant to article 21 of the bases of the public telecommunications concession, is to cease on the same date.
The Resolution recommends that PT Comunicações S.A., as concessionaire of the current public telecommunications service, should inform all subscribers of the maritime mobile service, with at least three months notice prior to termination of the service's provision.
It is likewise established that ANACOM, pursuant to its responsibilities assisting the Government and according to the same period of notice, should promote proper dissemination of this decision, specifically by affixing prominently placed notices nationally at all ports, in large-circulation national newspapers and on its website.
The Government's decision is based on the report of the public consultation held in October to assess the necessity and appropriateness of maintaining provision, as a public service, of telex, data transmission, telegraph and mobile maritime (component of public correspondence) services.
Consult:
- Resolution of the Council of Ministers no. 2/2013, of 10 January https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1150234
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Public consultation on telex, data, telegraph and mobile maritime services https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=346982
