As from 1 October and in accordance with ICP's resolution, users of fixed telephone services in Lisbon and Oporto may route calls through the new fixed network providers without dialling the codes (10xy) that identify them. This pre-selection modality of indirect access is now in its definitive phase in the two main urban centres of Portugal. Furthermore, this is an incentive to competitors by making it easier to have access to new operators.
Throughout the rest of Portugal, definitive pre-selection will be available as from the following 15 November and is in its interim phase until said date. The interim pre-selection consists in using auto-diallers on the terminal equipment of clients. The delay results from the technical difficulties experienced by Portugal Telecom in simultaneously adapting its entire network to this new innovation.
Pre-selection, which now reaches clients with numbers beginning with 21 and 22, is easier for consumers, as the selection of the operator/s chosen by the users is carried out at the exchanges of the operators.
To gain access to this function, the user should contact the provider or providers of his option and request the pre-selection of his line. After the function is activated, the user only needs to dial the telephone number of the required destination without using any code (10xy), so that the connection is automatically routed by the provider previously chosen by him.
Using the remaining providers continues to be possible by means of the call-by-call selection. As has been the case since 1 January 2000, this is done by dialling the identification code, followed by the destination code whenever the user wants to make a call.
In the same way, pre-selection in no way hinders the possibility of making calls by means of the direct access provider (the one who installed the phone). Thus, and whenever a client with a pre-selected phone wishes to establish a connection, he should dial the code of his direct access provider. In Portugal Telecom's case, this code is 1020.
At the present moment, eligible calls are long-distance, national and international calls, as well as those calls made to mobile phones. As from 1 January, local and regional calls will also be eligible.
Related information on ANACOM's website:
- Access and Interconnection https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=4468
