International communications

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What are international communications? What is the difference between international communications and international roaming?

International communications are voice communications or messages which, when in Portugal, use the numbers of other countries or are sent from abroad. They may be established using, inter alia, mobile or fixed equipment.

International communications received are, as a rule, free. However, the prices of international communications that you originate are, as a rule, higher than those applicable to communications you make to national numbers, with, in particular, the rules of Roam Like at Home not applying.

International communications should not be confused with outgoing or incoming communications involving international roaming, which take place when you use your mobile device abroad.

International roaming communications and international communications have different prices and are subject to different rules.

See the FAQ - International Roaminghttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?categoryId=324515 for more information about international roaming and the prices and other rules that apply to it.

How can I find out about the prices charged for international communications? What are the international communications that, since 15 May 2019, have maximum limits?

The prices of international communications that you originate are, as a rule, higher than those applicable to communications you make to national numbers.

For information on the prices of international communications, you should check your contract and/or contact your operator.

In any case, since 15 May 2019, caps will be imposed on retail prices charged to consumers¹ by “regulated intra-European Union (EU) communications”².

These caps were introduced by Regulation (EU) 2015/2120https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1373317, as amended by article 50 of Regulation (EU) 2018/1971https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1464946 and are intended to ensure that consumers are not charged excessive prices for such intra-EU communications³.

The caps which have been in force since 15 May⁴ are the following:

	Maximum prices (without VAT) paid by the consumer⁵ sending the communication
Calls originated by the consumer⁵ in their Country and terminated at a fixed or mobile number of another EU country⁶	EUR 0.19 per minute
Text message (SMS) originated by the consumer⁵ in their Country and terminated at a fixed or mobile number of another EU country⁶	EUR 0.06 per SMS

These limits apply to communications where charging is wholly or partially made on the basis of actual consumption.

However, operators of regulated intra-EU communications services may also offer a tariff for international communications, including regulated intra-EU communications, which does not meet the above limits (alternative tariff).

Consumers can explicitly accept the alternative tariff, but before they do so, they must be informed by operators about the type of advantages they will no longer benefit from.

If an alternative tariff exceeds the above limits, consumers who, within two months after 15 May 2019, have not confirmed or expressed a preference for this tariff, will automatically benefit from tariffs that comply with the aforementioned limits.

Consumers may switch from (or back to) a tariff according to the caps indicated, within one working day of receipt of the request by the provider, free of charge. The operator must ensure that such such switch does not entail any conditions or restrictions with regard to elements of the subscription other than regulated intra-EU communications.

See also:

BEREC Guidelines on intra-EU communications https://berec.europa.eu/eng/document_register/subject_matter/berec/regulatory_best_practices/guidelines/8448-berec-guidelines-on-intra-eu-communications
BEREC explains intra-EU communications (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCSkZNZ6Q9E&feature=youtu.be

Notes

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¹ ''Consumer'', means a natural person who uses or requests a publicly available electronic communications service for non-professional purposes.
² Regulated intra-EU Communications: communications involving fixed and mobile voice and text messages (SMS) originating in the Member State of the consumer's domestic provider and terminating at any fixed or mobile number of the national numbering plan of another Member State, and which is charged wholly or partially based on actual consumption. These do not include roaming communications.
³ As soon as the caps indicated in the table are incorporated into the European Economic Area Agreement (EU countries and also Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein), they will apply to all regulated intra-EEA calls and SMS and not just regulated intra-EU calls and SMS.
⁴ Except where a provider shows to the regulator that, due to specific and exceptional circumstances distinguishing it from most other Union providers, the application of these caps would have a significant impact on that provider’s capacity to sustain its existing prices for domestic communications.
⁵ ''Consumer'', means a natural person who uses or requests a publicly available electronic communications service for non-professional purposes.