On 1 March, ANACOM approved a reduction of 10% in the maximum prices of Ethernet circuits between Mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira (CAM circuits) and a reduction of 6% in the prices of Ethernet circuits between various islands of the Azores (inter-island circuits).
This reduction affects the prices of the circuits which MEO - Serviços de Comunicações e Multimédia (MEO) makes available to other operators and providers of electronic communications services within the scope of the Reference Ethernet Leased Lines Offer (RELLO).
The main purpose of this decision is to improve conditions of competition in the Autonomous Regions, bringing benefits to operators which offer alternatives to MEO and which need to lease these connections to develop their businesses, and bringing benefits to consumers.
ANACOM considers that this reduction in wholesale prices will lead to provision of more favourable conditions for other operators so that they can offer services in the archipelagos of the Azores and Madeira with better coverage of the different islands. The new conditions should lead to the appearance of a greater range of improved retail offers at more competitive prices, all to the benefit of consumers.
At the same time, approval was also given to the maintenance of the maximum prices of traditional circuits, under the Leased Lines Reference Offer (LLRO).
The respective draft decision (approved by ANACOM on 24 January 2019)https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1467886 was notified to the European Commission, the Body of European Regulators for Electronic Communications (BEREC) and the national regulatory authorities of the other Member States of the European Union. By letter of 18 February 2019, the Commission stated that it had no comments.
The new maximum prices enter into force with effect from 7 November 2018, the date of approval of the draft decisionhttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1463480 which preceded the present decision.
Consult:
- Approved revision of prices of CAM circuits and inter-island circuits 2018 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1468991
- Consultation on the revision of CAM circuit and inter-island circuit prices 2018 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1463484
