Celebrating 33 years in Portugal, Vodafone Portugal maintains a strong market position that its CEO, Luís Lopes, describes as making the company “a very attractive asset” in any future consolidation of the country’s electronic communications sector. While short-term consolidation is unlikely, Lopes believes it is inevitable in the long term, noting that Vodafone itself could act as a potential consolidator, recalling its attempted acquisition of Nowo two years ago, which was blocked by the Competition Authority.
The market has been under pressure since the entry of Digi, a Romanian telecom operator offering low-cost fixed and mobile services. European telecom operators, including Vodafone, face revenue declines - in Portugal, telecom revenue could fall by up to 5% this year, according to Lopes, driven by regulatory uncertainty and public policies.
Spectrum and Network Resilience
Vodafone Portugal has also raised concerns about spectrum renewal rights expiring in 2028, urging the government to define a solution to avoid deterring investors. Lopes indicated the company is open to making commitments - including coverage and energy resilience targets - while ideally renewing spectrum without restrictive conditions.
Following the April 28 blackout, Vodafone initiated an investment plan to enhance network resilience, installing batteries with eight hours of autonomy at key sites and positioning industrial generators at critical nodes across its 1,500 telecommunications sites.
Past Challenges and Cybersecurity
Reflecting on its history, Lopes also recalled the cyberattack in February 2022, which temporarily disabled Vodafone Portugal’s infrastructure. While few details are public, the CEO clarified that an external actor was responsible, with no evidence of state involvement, and that internal issues identified at the time have since been addressed.
Vodafone Portugal’s strong market position, ongoing investments in resilience, and experience navigating challenges position it as a key player in Portugal’s telecom sector, ready to face the future of consolidation and technological transformation.
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