By draft decision, ANACOM has approved the renewal of the rights of use of frequencies in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands allocated to Vodafone and MEO until 21 April 2033. Renewal of these rights is made subject to additional obligations to provide coverage in 100 parishes with low population density. The operators will have to provide these parishes with a mobile broadband service of a speed not less than 100 Mbps, covering at least 90% of the population.
Noting that there are areas of Portugal that have not benefited equally from investments made by the operators, it is considered essential to maintain the objectives of ensuring that coverage is extended to areas of lower population density. With a set of parishes already included in the obligations associated with the “5G Auction” Regulation, the next 100 parishes with lowest population density (not included in this Regulation) have now been identified (see Annex 1).
Of these 100 parishes, 56 will be covered by MEO and 44 will be covered by Vodafone, in line with the amount of spectrum allocated to each operator.
This decision, which is now subject to a prior hearing and public consultation for a period of 20 working days, makes it possible to accomplish the regulatory objectives assigned to ANACOM, especially in terms of ensuring effective and efficient use of the spectrum, promoting competition in retail markets, encouraging investment and avoiding disruption to continuity in the provision of communications services.
Since the radio spectrum is a scarce public resource with significant economic value, the benefits of the spectrum must be made available to the maximum number of consumers and users. In this context, ANACOM considers that the association of new obligations with rights of use of frequencies is an important mechanism to mitigate and eliminate identified deficiencies, in terms of coverage and in terms of mobile network capacity, promoting economic and social cohesion throughout Portugal.
Under the terms of ANACOM's draft decision, MEO and Vodafone will have until 30 June 2022 to reach an agreement on the distribution of the parishes where there are required to provide coverage. The result of this agreement must be reported to ANACOM. The operators cannot select parishes where they are already subject to specific coverage obligations arising from the Multiband Auction or the renewal of the Rights of Frequencies in respect of the 2.1 GHz band. In this respect, it should be recalled that ANACOM made operators subject to obligations to provide coverage in an additional 480 parishes as a result of the Multiband Auction, and an additional 588 more parishes with renewal of the Rights of Frequencies in respect of the 2.1 GHz band.
The result of the agreement referred to above between MEO and Vodafone must be approved by ANACOM. If no agreement is reached, ANACOM will decide on the distribution of parishes between the two operators by means of a random allocation. As such the geographic scope of the coverage obligations will be accomplished, constituting an integral part of the titles that govern the rights of use of frequencies.
Vodafone and MEO are required to achieve compliance with the coverage obligations applicable to the 100 parishes no later than one year following the date on which the agreement is approved and/or following the result of the random allocation.
Annex 1
Parish |
Municipality |
District |
Canha |
MONTIJO |
SETÚBAL |
Raposa |
ALMEIRIM |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Bensafrim e Barão de São João |
LAGOS |
FARO |
Valada |
CARTAXO |
SANTARÉM |
Porto Covo |
SINES |
SETÚBAL |
Arrouquelas |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
Muge |
SALVATERRA DE MAGOS |
SANTARÉM |
Ota |
ALENQUER |
LISBOA |
Vau |
ÓBIDOS |
LEIRIA |
União das freguesias de Poceirão e Marateca |
PALMELA |
SETÚBAL |
Santo Estevão |
BENAVENTE |
SANTARÉM |
Coimbrão |
LEIRIA |
LEIRIA |
São Sebastião |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
Bom Sucesso |
FIGUEIRA DA FOZ |
COIMBRA |
Vila Nova da Rainha |
AZAMBUJA |
LISBOA |
União das freguesias de Manique do Intendente, Vila Nova de São Pedro e Maçussa |
AZAMBUJA |
LISBOA |
Vila Verde dos Francos |
ALENQUER |
LISBOA |
São Caetano |
CANTANHEDE |
COIMBRA |
Azinhaga |
GOLEGÃ |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Outeiro da Cortiçada e Arruda dos Pisões |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
Mexilhoeira Grande |
PORTIMÃO |
FARO |
Chancelaria |
TORRES NOVAS |
SANTARÉM |
Monsanto |
ALCANENA |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Glória do Ribatejo e Granho |
SALVATERRA DE MAGOS |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Pegões |
MONTIJO |
SETÚBAL |
Serra de Santo António |
ALCANENA |
SANTARÉM |
Amoreira |
ÓBIDOS |
LEIRIA |
Alguber |
CADAVAL |
LISBOA |
Tocha |
CANTANHEDE |
COIMBRA |
União das freguesias de Abrunheira, Verride e Vila Nova da Barca |
MONTEMOR-O-VELHO |
COIMBRA |
Pedrógão |
TORRES NOVAS |
SANTARÉM |
Samora Correia |
BENAVENTE |
SANTARÉM |
Vidais |
CALDAS DA RAINHA |
LEIRIA |
Avelãs de Cima |
ANADIA |
AVEIRO |
Peral |
CADAVAL |
LISBOA |
União das freguesias de Malhou, Louriceira e Espinheiro |
ALCANENA |
SANTARÉM |
Fráguas |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
Quiaios |
FIGUEIRA DA FOZ |
COIMBRA |
Pombalinho |
GOLEGÃ |
SANTARÉM |
Alcobertas |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Azambujeira e Malaqueijo |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
Asseiceira |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Marmeleira e Assentiz |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
Tentúgal |
MONTEMOR-O-VELHO |
COIMBRA |
União das freguesias de Lamas e Cercal |
CADAVAL |
LISBOA |
Paderne |
ALBUFEIRA |
FARO |
Ribeira de Fráguas |
ALBERGARIA-A-VELHA |
AVEIRO |
Ourentã |
CANTANHEDE |
COIMBRA |
Bugalhos |
ALCANENA |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Portunhos e Outil |
CANTANHEDE |
COIMBRA |
União das freguesias de Brogueira, Parceiros de Igreja e Alcorochel |
TORRES NOVAS |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de São João da Ribeira e Ribeira de São João |
RIO MAIOR |
SANTARÉM |
São Brás de Alportel |
SÃO BRÁS DE ALPORTEL |
FARO |
Aveiras de Baixo |
AZAMBUJA |
LISBOA |
Moita dos Ferreiros |
LOURINHÃ |
LISBOA |
Benavente |
BENAVENTE |
SANTARÉM |
Gafanha da Boa Hora |
VAGOS |
AVEIRO |
Olho Marinho |
ÓBIDOS |
LEIRIA |
Murtede |
CANTANHEDE |
COIMBRA |
Sanguinheira |
CANTANHEDE |
COIMBRA |
São Jacinto |
AVEIRO |
AVEIRO |
Vila Nova de Monsarros |
ANADIA |
AVEIRO |
União das freguesias de Dois Portos e Runa |
TORRES VEDRAS |
LISBOA |
Moita |
ANADIA |
AVEIRO |
Aguiar de Sousa |
PAREDES |
PORTO |
Alcoentre |
AZAMBUJA |
LISBOA |
União das freguesias de São Bartolomeu dos Galegos e Moledo |
LOURINHÃ |
LISBOA |
União das freguesias de Pataias e Martingança |
ALCOBAÇA |
LEIRIA |
Seixo |
MIRA |
COIMBRA |
Reguengo do Fetal |
BATALHA |
LEIRIA |
Praia de Mira |
MIRA |
COIMBRA |
Capela |
PENAFIEL |
PORTO |
Alvorninha |
CALDAS DA RAINHA |
LEIRIA |
Famalicão |
NAZARÉ |
LEIRIA |
Alpiarça |
ALPIARÇA |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Covões e Camarneira |
CANTANHEDE |
COIMBRA |
União das freguesias de Olaia e Paço |
TORRES NOVAS |
SANTARÉM |
Carvalhal |
BOMBARRAL |
LEIRIA |
Vila Chã de Ourique |
CARTAXO |
SANTARÉM |
União das freguesias de Ribafria e Pereiro de Palhacana |
ALENQUER |
LISBOA |
Vila Nova de Cacela |
VILA REAL DE SANTO ANTÓNIO |
FARO |
Santiago dos Velhos |
ARRUDA DOS VINHOS |
LISBOA |
A dos Negros |
ÓBIDOS |
LEIRIA |
São Mamede |
BATALHA |
LEIRIA |
Vila Franca de Xira |
VILA FRANCA DE XIRA |
LISBOA |
Sines |
SINES |
SETÚBAL |
União das freguesias de Coz, Alpedriz e Montes |
ALCOBAÇA |
LEIRIA |
Torreira |
MURTOSA |
AVEIRO |
União das freguesias de Colmeias e Memória |
LEIRIA |
LEIRIA |
Sado |
SETÚBAL |
SETÚBAL |
Assentiz |
TORRES NOVAS |
SANTARÉM |
Ferreira-a-Nova |
FIGUEIRA DA FOZ |
COIMBRA |
Alqueidão |
FIGUEIRA DA FOZ |
COIMBRA |
Ereira |
MONTEMOR-O-VELHO |
COIMBRA |
A dos Francos |
CALDAS DA RAINHA |
LEIRIA |
Carvalhal Benfeito |
CALDAS DA RAINHA |
LEIRIA |
União das freguesias de Maxial e Monte Redondo |
TORRES VEDRAS |
LISBOA |
Carnota |
ALENQUER |
LISBOA |
União das freguesias de Abrigada e Cabanas de Torres |
ALENQUER |
LISBOA |
Odiáxere |
LAGOS |
FARO |
Annex 2
Consult:
- Consultation on the renewal of right of use of frequencies allocated to Vodafone Portugal and MEO in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz frequency bands for terrestrial electronic communications services https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1646761