The number of subscriptions to Internet access services rose by nearly 49% between the end of 2001 and the end of 2002, reaching a total of 5.17 million, indicates data from the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (ANACOM). The service's penetration rate was thus around 50%, versus 34% at the end of 2001.
Broadband was the market segment with the highest growth rates for new adhesions, though it represents no more than 5% of the universe of all service subscriptions.
The number of broadband - ADSL and cable included - service customers nevertheless reached 260,000 at the end of 2002, as against less than 97,000 at the end of the previous year, for growth of around 169%.
Cable access, offered commercially since 1999, by itself represented 80% of all broadband internet accesses, equivalent to 207,000 customers at the end of 2002, versus less than 94,000 at the end of 2001.
ADSL access, which began in 2001, accounted for the remaining 20%. In absolute terms, the number of customers rose to 52,000 at the end of 2002, versus 18,000 at the end of the 3rd quarter of 2001. The number of ADSL customers thus increased by about 189% in one quarter.
Dial-up accesses - which were initially designated as 'free' accesses - nevertheless continue to be those most used in Portugal, representing 95% of all registered accesses, having increased by nearly 46% between the fourth quarters of 2001 and 2002.
| 2001 | 2002 | |
| Total number of customers | 3 459 640 | 5 165 057 |
| Dial-up access customers | 3 360 324 | 4 902 294 |
| Dedicated access customers | 2 709 | 3 272 |
| ADSL access customers | 2 886 | 52 005 |
| Cable access customers | 93 721 | 207 486 |
| 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | |
| Number of customers per 100 inhabitants | 0,9% | 1,7% | 6,5% | 21,1% | 33,5% | 50,0% |
Consult:
- Postal services https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=277884
