Operators spent 72 million on energy - Economic

Price packages’ triple play and mobile communications fell by about 20% in three years.

Energy costs of telecommunications operators has been increasing and in 2011 reached 72 million, which represents approximately 1.2% of total revenues of the sector This is one of the conclusions of the study developments in the sector, commissioned by Deloitte Apritel, the association of telecommunications companies.

encumbrance to which the sector has been subject is, moreover, one of the main points of this study. “The difference in charges compared to European peers diamonds highlights a enoração extra sector”, said in a telephone interview to the Daily Economic Ana Paula Marques, president of Apritel. Only Ireland Portugal exceeds the total charges to the rates of activity and regulation for electronic communications as a percentage of revenues. In 2011 this figure stood at 1.24% in Portugal and Ireland was 1.33%.

Ana Paula Marques goes further, referring to the impact of the cinema law, which provides for a contribution from operators of 53% of total funding. The president also emphasizes Apritel costs “72 million in energy costs over 10 million per year invested in the theme of thefts and robberies and highly impacted by legal fees.” It is estimated that the accumulated debt of pending cases exceed 400 million euros, according to the study.

Despite the growing burden of the sector and the increased costs the price of communications has been falling. Between 2009 and 2011 the cost of the packages ‘triple play’ (television, internet and telephone) fell by 21%, whereas the average price per minute of mobile communications decreased by 22%.

“This is particularly important at a time when revenues fell by about 5.3% per year between 2009 and 2011 and the sector has the ability to hold the investment in about 20% of total revenues, ie, more than 1400 million per year, “stresses the president of the association of operators.

Apritel is already in contact with the various departments of State and the Minister in order to discuss issues related to the extra burden of the sector. “We believe that in the future if it continues to face the sector with some loose greed for fees at a time when the contraction is evident from the point of view of the consumer so there may be a reduction in investment,” says Ana Paula Marques. So Apritel urges that “conditions are created so that the sector can continue to invest, with a multiplier effect on the economy,” concluded the President of Apritel.

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