In 2019, ANACOM pursued its regulatory activities to ensure the sustained development of the communications sector, the promotion and advocacy of competition and the protection of users' rights and interests (see attached the Opening comments of the ANACOM Annual Report for the 2019 financial year, released today).
In 2019, the regulatory fees charged by ANACOM fell by 4% to 32 million euros, reflecting the costs stemming from the regulatory, supervisory and inspection activities carried out by the Authority. The reduction in interest rates contributed, in part, to the 3% drop in income, to 95 million euros.
In 2019, ANACOM invested 3.8 million euros, above the average for the last 10 years. The investment in information systems (hardware and software), necessary both for the performance of ANACOM’s activities and for the improvement of the services provided to the market and to consumers, constituted the most important part, absorbing almost half of the total invested. Investments in the acquisition of a tool to carry out quality of service tests within the scope of market surveillance and various items of support equipment for the technical areas of monitoring and control of the radio spectrum and laboratories represent the second largest portion. The remaining investment was aimed at modernising the spectrum monitoring centres in Porto and Ponta Delgada.
In 2019, spending amounted to 55.4 million euros, 1% up on 2018. It is noted that provisions for legal claims amounted to 14 million euros. It should be noted, in particular, that ANACOM continued to strictly pursue expenditure restraint, inter alia that related to the acquisition of goods and services. Significantly, a reduction in the respective amount of around 2 million euros has been reported over the last 8 years, which represents savings of almost 17%.
Income for the year amounted to 39.6 million euros, of which 37.2 million euros will be delivered up to the State. Once again, ANACOM recommends that this amount should preferably be used in the development of communications in Portugal, for the benefit of end-users. If we consider ANACOM’s contribution to the Competition Authority, in an amount of 6 million euros, the total amount delivered up to the State stands at 43 million euros.
ANACOM maintains a sound and consistent financial structure achieved over recent years, ensuring the financial autonomy recommended in its Statutes, which is a basic condition for guaranteeing the independence of the Regulator.
Consult:
- Annual Report and Accounts 2019 https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1563350
