ANACOM - Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações has intensified its enforcement and inspection activities to oversee the conduct of the market's various actors and the conditions governing use of the radio spectrum. The number of such actions increased by 10% in 2013, with over 3500 actions conducted over the year.
Around 300 enforcement actions were undertaken in the electronic communications sector, with a special focus on contract lock-in periods, compliance with number portability rules, contracting procedures and the disclosure of conditions governing provision of services, as well as on the subscription contract models used by providers. In the case of lock-in periods about 725 situations were investigated, while compliance with number portability rules was ascertained in about one thousand situations.
ANACOM undertook 647 enforcement actions targeting the postal sector, ascertaining the proper functioning of hundreds of post offices, postal distribution centres and the activity pursued by courier companies.
As regards the rules governing telecommunications infrastructure in buildings and urban developments, as are essential to ensure competition in the sector and proper access to services, ANACOM's objective was to verify the conformity of agents' activities with applicable rules, and also to ascertain the conformity of equipment, devices and materials used with prevailing technical and legal requirements. In total more than 400 inspections were undertaken.
In terms of spectrum oversight, 1,926 enforcement actions were carried out to ensure that the spectrum was being used in the most appropriate and efficient manner - the only way to ensure that there is no loss of quality in the provision of the various services and to ensure there are no security lapses that might threaten people and property as a result of interference.
In overseeing use of the spectrum, ANACOM conducts on-site inspections to verify that networks and stations are operating in accordance with the law. This activity is carried out on a regular and ongoing basis and also whenever temporary events take place, such as concerts and football matches, which entail the use of frequencies. The approaching summer season, with a series of music festivals and the Champions League Final, to be played in Lisbon, means an intensification of activity in this area.
A number of the inspections conducted by ANACOM uncovered non-compliant situations, which led to the instigation of breach proceedings.
In total, ANACOM analysed over 600 cases in 2013; 592 were concluded and 265 new breach proceedings were instigated. Most cases concluded with the imposition of fines or forfeiture of equipment to the State.
In total, 1.2 million euros in fines were applied in 2013.
