ANACOM has approved the renewal until 21 April 2033 of the rights of use for frequencies in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands granted to Vodafone and MEO. This renewal of the rights of use for frequencies carries additional obligations of coverage of 100 parishes with low population density, in which these providers will have to provide a mobile broadband service with a minimum speed of 100 Mbps, covering at least 90% of the population.
Having been observed that investments made by operators have not favoured evenly the different areas of the country, ANACOM considers it essential to maintain the coverage objectives for the less populated territories. Having a set of low-density parishes already been included in the obligations set out in the “5G Auction” Regulation, the 100 least populated parishes not included in that Regulation have now been identified (vide Annex 1).
Of these 100 parishes, MEO is required to ensure coverage in 56 parishes and Vodafone in 44 parishes. The difference in numbers concerns the amount of spectrum allocated to each of these operators.
This ANACOM decision was submitted to a prior hearing and public consultation for a period of 20 working days, during which MEO, NOS and Vodafone’s comments were received, as well as contributions from three citizens, the IUS OMNIBUS consumer association, nine Parish Councils and APRITEL.
The decision ensures that regulatory objectives that are incumbent on this Authority, namely to ensure the effective and efficient use of spectrum, to promote competition in retail markets, to encourage investment and to avoid disruptions in the continuity of provision of communications services, are met.
Given that radio spectrum is a scarce public resource, with a significant economic value, it should be guaranteed that this value will be enjoyed by as many consumers and users as possible. In this context, ANACOM believes that attaching new obligations to the rights of use for frequencies is an important mechanism for mitigating and eliminating deficiencies identified in terms of coverage and capacity provided in mobile networks, promoting economic and social cohesion in the national territory.
Under ANACOM’s decision, MEO and Vodafone are required to agree among themselves, by 30 June 2022, on the distribution of parishes to be covered, and inform ANACOM of the decision reached. Each operator cannot choose a parish in which it already has specific coverage obligations resulting from the Multiband Auction or the renewal of the 2.1 GHz RUF. It should be recalled that, in the first case, ANACOM imposed the additional coverage of 480 parishes and, in the second case, a further 588 parishes.
It is incumbent on ANACOM to approve the result of the agreement referred to in the preceding paragraph or, failing this, to decide on the distribution of parishes among the referred operators, using for this purpose a random draw by parish, thereby defining the geographical scope of the coverage obligations, which shall become an integral part of titles laying down the rights of use for frequencies.
Within one year from the date of approval of the agreement and/or the result of the draw, Vodafone and MEO are required to comply with the coverage obligations of the 100 parishes.
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:
- Approval of the renewal of the rights of use for frequencies allocated to Vodafone and MEO in the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands for terrestrial electronic communications services https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1681822
- 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