ANACOM launches 2nd public consultation on coverage of "white areas" with very high capacity fixed networks

At the request of the Government and in the scope of its assisting duties, ANACOM is promoting a public consultation on the deployment of very high capacity public electronic communications networks in “white areas”, using public funding, namely from the European Union.

This is the second public consultation held on the identification of “white areas”, the first one having been launched in January. “White areas” are already more accurately identified, given that new data was collected and the designation of geographic areas was based on coverage information with a granularity at address level (in which each address corresponds to a single building). In total, 36 891 statistical subsections have now been identified as “white areas”, spread across 2032 civil parishes in 303 municipalities of the country. The total range of buildings covered reaches 450 thousand, corresponding to around 470 thousand dwellings¹ and buildings related to industry, commerce or agricultural facilities.

It should be noted that “white areas” can only be considered to include those where no high capacity network exists, nor is it planned to be installed within the relevant time horizon, or where there is only one network, which covers no more than 10% of the dwellings in the area.

This public consultation seeks the input of all stakeholders and interested parties, namely local authorities, network operators and providers of electronic communications services, private and public entities and users, on the identification of “white areas” (geographical areas where such networks are not currently available) and on the measure for the deployment of very high capacity networks in these areas through public funding, as well as on the content of tender procedures to be carried out.

To this end, the following documents are subject to public consultation:

• the methodology for the definition of “white areas”, as well as access to the address of the respective digital map;
• the public tender programme for the installation, management, operation and maintenance of very high capacity networks;
• the specifications for the public tender for installation, management, operation and maintenance of very high capacity networks.

Interested parties may send their contributions, in writing and in Portuguese, by 12 December 2022, preferably via email to concurso.areasbrancas@anacom.ptmailto:concurso.areasbrancas@anacom.pt. Contributions may also be submitted by post to ANACOM’s Head Office at Avenida José Malhoa, no. 12, 1099-017 Lisbon.

Once the consultation is closed, ANACOM will prepare a report providing a summary of contributions received, to be submitted to the Government and made publicly available on its website. The publication of results will guarantee the confidential nature of any elements identified as such and reasoned by respondents.

ANACOM provides on its website an interactive maphttps://anacom.maps.arcgis.com/apps/instant/sidebar/index.html?appid=21ab91cd5436470abb7c91b26264eac4 with the geographical representation of the identified “white areas” (vide Fig. 1).

Tutorial video for viewing the Interactive Map

Figure 1 - Interactive map for searching and viewing “white areas”

Consult:

• Public consultation on the deployment of very high capacity public electronic communications networks in "white areas" https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1733188