Anacom is encouraging operators to have offers ‘low-cost’ – LUSA

The President of the National Communications Authority (Anacom) said today that the regulator is to encourage telecom operators to include in its offer a package ‘low cost’ (low cost).

Fátima Barros was speaking to journalists at the end of a hearing in the committee of Economy, Innovation and Public Works, during the presentation of the multi-annual plan of activities and programming of its development.

During the hearing, the president of Anacom had stated that the current telecommunications package deals were of “high quality” with “many advantages” and to have a positive assessment by customers.

However, consumers “would like to have alternatives, with fewer channels and lower price,” he exemplified considering that “deficiencies” that there is the fact that there is “an offer ‘low cost’ ‘but added that she hoped there is news on this topic

Asked to comment on this kind of offers by journalists, Fátima Barros said:.. “we have encouraged operators to be more diverse in its offerings, especially in terms of vertical differentiation”

the president of Anacom recalled that Portugal has a low broadband penetration and that results from digital illiteracy and socio-economic issues.

“we think that if there was the possibility of people not having deals so full, so rich, but simple and affordable, “it would allow greater access to Internet.Ou is, these packages have fewer channels and a more limited Internet, but allow those on low incomes could benefit from this type services.

“there are countries with a greater diversity of offers, there is no reason for this not happen in Portugal”, he said.

on the question of loyalty, the Anacom said the proposed regulator is in committee, awaiting the decision of the deputies.

“One of the proposals that we made was a loyalty 12 months,” he said.

that is, as was required that operators had an offer of a year, but now the regulator wants “the possibility of 12 months” is “extended to all offers,” he explained the governor.

In addition, the proposal Anacom also contains the “possibility of [loyalty] six months,” but this is not enforced.

During the hearing, Fátima Barros had considered the issue of telecommunications procurement is a complex area that the regulator is closely monitoring.

“Here we are making enormous pressure on operators,” particularly in the case of “exit barriers” of the contract. Ie, the conditions out of a contract before the deadline loyalty.

“We are exercising some enforcement actions practices that consider less transparent,” he said at the hearing.

the agreements of sports broadcast rights, Anacom said he was also following closely.

the regulator pointed out that this is an issue that the Competition Authority is monitoring.

“we are aware of the measures that operators will take, is an area that we look very closely,” he added.

at the end of the hearing, questioned on the subject of the regulatory wages, Fátima Barros found that “the situation should be discussed in the proper forum.”

“I do not know why it is a matter of discussion at a public level,” he said.

ALU // ATR

Lusa / End