U02E - Telephone

Fixed telephone lines

There are many phone/cable TV companies operating in Portugal and all have now a land line product, but it also depends on the signal in your area. 

Connecting a new telephone line is normally quite quick. On the other hand, if your house is in a remote country area far from the telephone network, be prepared for a longer wait. If there's no existing line, installation (via PT) takes 2–4 days in cities, up to 2 weeks in rural areas. 

To start a new contract, you will normally need to go to one of the telephone company's offices, provide identification (passport or EU ID), tax/fiscal number (NIF), proof of address (rental agreement, utility bill, residency card) and sign the appropriate form. Most companies will also accept a request over the phone and post the documents to sign or even bring them over for you. They will need your full name, the full address of the house, a contact phone number, and your tax/fiscal number (NIF).

We advise members to shop around before they decide on a communication company, ask for services, cover, prices, all you need to know to decide the best option for your particular case.

Providers & Infrastructure

• MEO (Altice Portugal): Historic incumbent; manages the main fixed‑line network and offers bundled services (landline + internet + TV + mobile) 

• NOS: offers cable HFC & FTTH bundles; landline included.

• VODAFONE: provides landline over PT’s infrastructure with TV bundles and mobile 

• NOWO (part of Digi): available in many areas via its fiber, mobile, landline, and TV

• Smaller or VoIP providers: ARTelecom, ONI, Jazztel, Netvoice, Novis, among others

Mobile phones 

All these companies mentioned above will also provide a mobile phone service. Please ensure that you obtain the best coverage, internet speed, price, and the most favorable conditions for your specific situation. You can always request a local mobile coverage test before committing, to determine whether it meets your needs. Some companies offer better coverage in urban areas, while others perform well in rural zones.

Special services 

Many of the companies provide a number of special services. These include Voice Mail (replaces your answering machine), aviso de chamadas em espera (advises you of a second call), reencaminhamento de chamadas (automatically re-routes calls to another number), conferência a três (conference calls), chamada com destino fixo (just pick up the phone and it connects to a pre-defined number), and barramento de chamadas (where you can use a code to activate or deactivate levels of service).

Tips & Caveats

Please be aware of 24‑month loyalty periods and early‑termination fees (sometimes up to €500).

Portability (“portabilidade”): You can switch providers and keep your number — works well for both mobile and landline.

Cancellation of a telephone contract must be in writing either by registered post with acknowledgment of recipient, by email or at one of the company's offices. The request should indicate the disconnect date, contact number of the telephone to be removed and the address for final invoicing. 

Useful links
Coverage Map 
Price Comparison
Provided by ANACOM (Right click on the pages to translate the options)

ANACOM is the portuguese regulatory authority for postal and electronic communications.