Executive Summary
Telecoms prices down by 0.2% compared with last month
In June 2024, telecoms prices, as measured by the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) group, fell by 0.2% compared with last month due to changes in bundled offers and mobile services.
Compared with the same month last year, telecoms prices rose by 6.9%. This was 4.1 p.p. (percentage points) higher than the CPI (2.8%). It should be remembered that ANACOM has recommended that operators limit price increases for 20241.
The average rate of change in telecoms prices over the last twelve months was 5.7%, 3.2 p.p. higher than the CPI (2.6%). This was the highest rate since August 1994.
In terms of services, the average rate of change over the last twelve months in Portugal was 6.0% for bundled services and 5.7% for mobile telephone services, according to Eurostat data.
Average rate of change over the last twelve months was 4.8 p.p. higher in Portugal than in the EU
In international terms, the average rate of change of telecoms prices in Portugal over the last twelve months was 4.8 p.p. higher than in the European Union, where the rate was 0.9%. Portugal recorded the 4th highest price change (24th lowest) among the EU27 countries. The highest price increase was observed in Hungary (+12.5%), while the largest decrease was recorded in Malta (-9.5%).
On a sub-group basis, the average rates of change over the last 12 months for bundled services and mobile telephone services in Portugal were 3.8 p.p. and 6.6 p.p. respectively above the EU average.
Telecom prices in Portugal up by 22.5% since the end of 2009
From a long-term perspective and in cumulative terms, telecoms prices have increased by 22.5% since the end of 2009, while the CPI has increased by 31.3%. Over the same period, however, telecoms prices in the EU fell by 8.3%.
NOWO has the lowest monthly charge for seven offers
On an operator basis, the lowest monthly charges were offered by NOWO in seven cases across a range of 11 services/offers, while MEO and Vodafone each had the lowest monthly charges for two types of service/offer.
For example, NOWO had the lowest minimum monthly charge for the stand-alone mobile service (EUR 6.25) and for the triple-play (EUR 26.25) and quadruple-play (EUR 32.50) bundles, while Vodafone had the lowest minimum monthly charge for the quintuple-play offer (EUR 64.10).
Broadband prices in Portugal above the EU27 average for most of the usage profiles analysed, according to the EC
Broadband prices in Portugal were above the EU27 average for most of the usage profiles analysed, according to data from the European Commission.
In terms of “4P” usage profiles, the prices of offers in Portugal were between 7% and 37% higher than the EU average, placing it between 14th and 26th in the EU.
For triple-play bundles, prices in Portugal were between 17% and 38% higher than the EU average, ranking between 19th and 23rd.
Single-play fixed broadband prices in Portugal ranged from 29% to 54% above the EU average, placing it between 23rd and 27th in the EU.
For stand-alone mobile broadband offers, prices in Portugal ranged from 40% to 72% above the EU average. Prices in Portugal ranged from 22nd to 26th in the EU.
For the mobile voice and mobile Internet profiles, prices in Portugal ranged from 17% to 78% above the EU average for all usage profiles, except for the lowest traffic basket (1 GB + 30 calls) where prices were below the EU average (-3%). Portugal ranked between 23rd and 27th in the EU.
1 Vd. ANACOM recommends that operators limit price increaseshttps://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1773318.
