Executive Summary
Telecommunications prices in Portugal increased slightly compared to the previous month
In December 2023, telecommunications prices in Portugal, as measured through the respective grouping of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), increased by 0.02% compared to the previous month. This variation results from a change in prices charged for mobile broadband offers via PC/tablet/pen/router.
Compared to December 2022, telecommunications prices increased by 6.4%, with a price variation that is 5.0 percentage points higher than CPI (1.4%).
The average rate of change in telecommunications prices over the last 12 months was 4.1%, 0.3 percentage points below CPI (4.3%).
By type of service, according to data from Eurostat, the average rate of change over the last twelve months in Portugal was 6.0% for bundled services and 2.5% for mobile telephone services.
Average variation over the last twelve months in Portugal was 2.7 percentage points higher than in the EU
In international terms, the average rate of change over the last twelve months in telecommunications prices in Portugal was higher than that reported for the European Union (+2.7 percentage points). Portugal recorded the 8th highest price variation (20th lowest) among EU27 countries. The country reporting the biggest price increase was Hungary (+10.3%), while the biggest decrease occurred in the Austria (-4.9%). On average, telecommunications prices in the EU increased by 1.3%.
By subgroup, the average rate of change in prices over the last twelve months in Portugal was 2.9 percentage points higher than the EU average for bundled services and 3.0 percentage points higher for mobile telephone services.
Telecommunications prices in Portugal have increased by 14.7% since the end of 2009, while in the EU they have decreased by 8.5%
From a long-term perspective and in cumulative terms, telecommunications prices in Portugal have increased by 14.7% since the end of 2009, while CPI has increased by 27.9%. Considering the period from 2017 to 2019, the cumulative change in telecommunications prices was higher than the cumulative change in CPI due to “price adjustments” made over the years by the main providers. In 2019, the accumulated variation in telecommunications prices fell below the variation reported in CPI, mainly due to the entry into force of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971 of the European Parliament and of the Council, which imposed a maximum price on international calls and intra-EU SMS. In 2021 and 2022, CPI increased at a faster rate than telecommunications prices - this situation reversed during 2023.
In international terms, between the end of 2009 and December 2023, telecommunications prices in the EU decreased by 8.5%. A more detailed comparative analysis shows that telecommunications prices increased by 15.9% in Hungary, while decreasing by 29.1% in the Netherlands and by 10.2% in Austria.
NOWO with the lowest monthly charge for eight offers
By operator, the lowest monthly charges are offered by NOWO in eight out of a total of 13 services/offers; MEO and Vodafone reported the lowest monthly charges for three and two types of services/offers respectively. NOS did not have the lowest monthly charge for any service/offer.
In year-on-year terms, there were price increases in 25 services/offers and decreases in 14 services/offers. The following price variations stand out:
- The minimum monthly charge for the Fixed Telephone Service increased by 5.3%.
- The minimum monthly charge for the Mobile Telephone Service offer with mobile-phone Internet decreased by 13.0%.
- Minimum monthly charges for triple and quadruple-play offers and for two double-play offers decreased by between 0.9% and 1.3%.
- The minimum monthly charge for the quintuple-play offer increased by 12.3%.
In relation to December 2022, and by provider:
- MEO increased its monthly charge for five services/offers and reduced the monthly charge for two services/offers.
- NOS increased its monthly charge for 10 services/offers and reduced its monthly charge for one service/offer.
- Vodafone increased its minimum monthly charge for 10 services/offers and reduced its monthly charge for three services/offers.
- NOWO reduced its monthly charge for eight services/offers.
