Executive Summary
Telecom prices unchanged from the previous month
In January 2024, telecommunications prices, as measured by the relevant group of the Consumer Price Index (CPI), remained unchanged from the previous month.
Compared with the same month last year, telecom prices rose by 6.2%, 3.9 p.p. (percentage points) more than the CPI (2.3%).
The average rate of change in telecommunications prices over the last twelve months was 4.7%, 0.8 p.p. higher than the CPI (3.8%). This was the highest rate since February 1997.
According to the type of service, the average rate of change over the last twelve months in Portugal was 6.9% for bundled services and 2.7% for mobile telephone services, according to Eurostat data.
The average change over the last twelve months was 3.3 p.p. higher in Portugal than in the EU
From an international perspective, the average rate of change of telecom prices in Portugal over the last twelve months was +3.3 p.p. higher than in the European Union - on average prices in the EU increased by 1.3%. Portugal recorded the 5th highest (23rd lowest) price change among the EU27 countries. The highest price increase was registered in Hungary (+11.0%), while the largest decrease was observed in Austria (-5.0%).
On a sub-group basis, the average rates of change over the last twelve months for bundled services and mobile services in Portugal were 3.9 p.p. and 3.3 p.p. respectively above the EU average.
Telecom prices in Portugal up 14.7% since end 2009
In a long-term and cumulative perspective, telecom prices have increased by 14.7% since the end of 2009, while the CPI increased by 27.9%. However, over the same period, telecom prices in the EU fell by 8.4%.
NOWO with the lowest monthly charges for seven offers
On an operator basis, the lowest monthly charges were offered by NOWO in seven cases across a range of 11 services/offers, while MEO and Vodafone each had the lowest monthly charges for two types of service/offer.
For example, NOWO had the lowest minimum monthly charge for the standalone mobile service (EUR 6.25) and for the triple-play (EUR 22.5) and quadruple-play (EUR 30) bundles, while Vodafone had the lowest minimum monthly charge for the quintuple-play offer (EUR 63.90).
