Portugal's 5G Transformation: From Delayed Launch to European Leader

Portugal's 5G Transformation: From Delayed Launch to European Leader

Portugal's journey towards 5G adoption began with several obstacles, but just over two years after the launch of its first commercial 5G offerings, the country is now being hailed by the European Commission as a “model” for other EU members.

This turnaround is largely attributed to the swift actions of telecom operators and significant investments made despite initial delays.

The rollout of this new technology was initially marred by a prolonged and contentious frequency auction, leaving Portugal second-to-last among EU countries to deploy 5G mobile networks. However, the recent European Commission report on the state of the digital decade indicates that these issues are now firmly in the past.

The report confirms that Portugal is on track to achieve 100% coverage and connectivity well before the 2030 deadline. It highlights that Portugal is among the EU leaders in the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, deemed the primary 5G band, with 65.2% of Portuguese households covered.

Nos, Vodafone, and Meo attribute these positive outcomes to the investments made by telecom operators, moving Portugal from being the penultimate EU nation to launch 5G to surpassing the European average in coverage.

Portugal’s 5G coverage now exceeds 98%, compared to less than 90% across the EU. The Portuguese electronic communications sector has invested 10 billion euros over the past nine years, resulting in the unique distinction of two Portuguese cities being recognized as European leaders in 5G coverage and speed.

This transformation highlights the importance of swift action and investment in overcoming initial obstacles to achieve significant technological advancements.