4.1.2. Strategy of the universal service provider (USP) for public pay-telephones

In January 2011, PTC submitted a development strategy statement for the public pay-telephone service for 2011, based on the following key objectives:

• fulfilling the needs of the electronic communications market, including traditional voice services;
   
• relocating equipment subject to more frequent acts of vandalism;
   
• maintaining coverage in areas of special social interest, as defined for 2010;
   
• maintaining response to requirements of users with special needs.

In early 2012, PTC submitted a report to ICP-ANACOM on the accomplishment of the 2011 objectives. Information on PTC's stock of public pay-telephone for 2011 is shown in the following table, with data broken down by district and by accepted forms of payment.

Source: PTC.

Compared to the stock existing in 2010, an overall reduction was reported of about 12 percent (representing 3,535 pay-telephones), with a downward variation reported in all types of public pay-telephone.

The following graph summarizes information on the evolution of public pay-telephones reported in the period 2004-2011. The overall reduction in this period works out at approximately - 44.1 percent for the total stock of public pay-telephones (-32.6 percent for pay-telephones located in outdoors locations and -49.8 percent for pay-telephones located indoors).

Graph 19. Evolution reported in number of public pay-telephones in the period 2004-2011

Source: PTC and ICP-ANACOM calculation.

During 2011, a sharp decline was reported in the stock of public pay-telephones located in sites of social interest (including hospitals and health centres, educational establishments and airports), with a reduction of about 19 percent, corresponding to 550 public pay-telephones. In absolute terms the largest reduction occurred in educational establishments and in hospitals and health centres, as shown in the following table.

Source: PTC and calculations of ICP-ANACOM.

Meanwhile, PTC slightly increased its stock of cabins which allow wheelchair entry and exit in 2011, from 310 to 313 cabins.