In 3rd quarter 2015, there were around 3.8 million customers of the fixed telephone service in Portugal with direct access, an increase of 1.2% versus the previous quarter and an increase of 3.7% year-on-year. The growth reported this quarter stems from the growing popularity of bundled offers that include the fixed telephone service and include free calls to fixed numbers. As at the end of September, 8 out of every 10 customers of the fixed service received their service as part of a bundle.
MEO reported a 47.5% share of customers, Grupo NOS 36%, Vodafone 11.6% and Cabovisão 4.8%.
In the same period, the penetration rate of main telephone accesses was reported at 44.9 accesses per 100 inhabitants, the highest level recorded since these statistics on the fixed telephone service were first compiled in 4th quarter 2006.
The total stock of main telephone accesses was reported at 4.65 million accesses as at the end of 3rd quarter 2015 (an increase of 0.3% over the 2nd quarter and an increase of 1.8% compared to 3rd quarter 2014) The growth reported this quarter (an increase of 13.1 thousand equivalent accesses) was due to an increase in accesses supported over optical fibre and cable TV networks (an increase of 62.3 thousand accesses).
At the end of the period being reported, MEO was responsible for 51.1% of all main accesses; Grupo NOS was the second largest provider with a market share of 32.3%. Meanwhile, Vodafone, with a share of 11.8% (an increase of 0.7 percentage points), is the operator reporting the highest growth in the quarter.
The number of FTS voice minutes decreased by 7% compared to the 2nd quarter and fell by 14.4% over 3rd quarter 2014, remaining within the forecast range resulting from the estimated trend and seasonal effects.
In 3rd quarter 2015, each main access consumed an average of 86 minutes per month in fixed-fixed calls per (8 minutes fewer than in the previous quarter), 9 minutes in fixed-mobile calls (in line with the previous quarter) and 8 minutes in international calls (in line with the previous quarter).
There were about 22 thousand public pay-telephones in Portugal in the period (1.4 percent fewer than in the previous quarter and 3.7 percent fewer versus 3rd quarter 2014).
Consult the statistical report:
- Fixed telephone service - 3rd quarter 2015 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1374937
