Cable networks with 1.26 million subscribers - 4th quarter 2002

At the end of 2002 there were 1.26 million subscribers to Portugal's existing cable television networks, 12% more than in the previous year, according to data from the Autoridade Nacional  de Comunicações (ANACOM). This corresponds to 137,000 new subscribers over the course of the year.

The Lisbon and Tagus Valley region accounts for more than half the existing customers - 55% of the national total. However, the Alentejo and Algarve region registered the highest growth in number of subscribers: 38% between the end of 2001 and the end of 2002.

Lisbon and Tagus Valley is the country's most cabled region, with a cabled household penetration rate of over 100%, due to the multiple cabling of some households by more than one cable television operator. A 'cabled' household is understood to have the necessary conditions enabling access to a cable television service.

At the end of the fourth quarter of 2002, some 3.36 million households were cabled throughout the country, 11% more than in the same period of the previous year. The Alentejo and Algarve region evidenced the highest annual growth rate, of approximately 31%, corresponding to 55,000 newly cabled households.

At the end of 2002, there were a total of 289,000 subscribers to DTH - Direct to Home (satellite) technology, an alternative to cable infrastructure for television signal distribution. This is equivalent to annual growth of 29%, for 65,000 new subscribers.

Regarding the distribution of DTH subscribers, and as in previous quarters, the North region has the most subscribers, representing 33% of the national total.

Consult:

• Postal services https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=277884