Portugal
Mobile networks and carriers in Portugal use 2 GSM bands, 2 UMTS bands, 6 LTE bands, and 2 5G NR bands. Find out if your unlocked phone or mobile device will work in Portugal. See the tables below for details.
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Check device compatibilityPortugal's mobile network development has been marked by significant advancements and high penetration rates. The country has a modern and flexible telecommunications market, with a wide range of varied media organizations. The regulatory body overseeing communications, the Portuguese Institute for Communications (ICP), played a crucial role in the liberalization of the market, which began in the early 1990s. This liberalization led to the entry of new market players and accelerated the growth of the broadband subscriber base.
By the 2000s, Portugal had made substantial progress in broadband services, with the launch of high-speed next-generation networks. The government's broadband initiative aimed to connect up to 1.5 million homes and businesses to these new fibre networks, enabling them to benefit from improved high-speed Internet, TV, and voice services. By 2010, the number of households connected to fibre-optic networks had reached 1.47 million, and the number of households with EuroDOCSIS 3.0 standard accesses totaled 3.8 million. This led to a significant increase in high-speed access, with about 59% of family households having access to at least one high-speed network, primarily concentrated in the Lisbon and North regions.
In terms of mobile cellular connections, Portugal has a high penetration rate, with 12.028 million mobile cellular users in 2019. The country's mobile operators, such as MEO, Vodafone, and NOS, offer a range of services from 2G to 4G. These operators have also been actively involved in the deployment of 5G networks, with NOS being the first to launch 5G services in December 2021, followed by MEO in January 2022. The Portuguese government has also been supportive of 5G development, raising nearly 567 million euros from 5G spectrum auctions.
Overall, Portugal's mobile network development has been characterized by rapid growth, high penetration, and a strong focus on advanced technologies like 5G.
Carriers
| Name | # of frequency bands in use |
|---|---|
| MEO | 11 |
| NOS | 10 |
| Nowo | 10 |
| Vodafone | 12 |
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Frequencies in use
GSM
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| 900 MHz (E-GSM) | GSM |
| 1800 MHz (DCS) | GSM |
UMTS
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | UMTS |
| B8 (900 MHz GSM) | UMTS |
LTE
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| B1 (2100 MHz) | LTE |
| B3 (1800 MHz +) | LTE |
| B7 (2600 MHz) | LTE |
| B8 (900 MHz) | LTE |
| B20 (800 MHz DD) | LTE |
| B38 (TD 2600 MHz) | LTE |
5G NR
| Name | Interface |
|---|---|
| N28 (700 MHz) | 5G NR |
| N78 (3500 MHz) | 5G NR |
