Telephones and Mobiles in Portugal

The first telephone call was carried out in Portugal in November 1877 one year after Alexander Graham Bell  announced he had invented the telephone. The experiment in connected Carcavelos and the Cabo Exchange in Lisbon.

In the intervening 131 years the telecommunications network in Portugal has advanced phenomenally, especially over the past decade.

Today the land line and mobile telephone communications network in Portugal is state of the art, which is often a surprise to many foreign nationals when they arrive in the country.

Portugal has a good network of telephone boxes and phones within most villages, towns and cities. Usually there will be public phones within Post offices (correios), bus and train stations as well as cafes and bars. Most of these public telephones are capable of taking both coin and credit cards for ease of use.

The national supplier of both domestic and commercial land line services is Portugal Telecom. Although there are other telecommunications companies within Portugal, which offer competitive packages for calls, all line rentals are all owned by Portugal Telecom.

Having a telephone line installed is relatively straightforward and you will need to contact the local branch of Portugal Telecom.  You will need proof you are either the owner or tenant of the property as well as the documentation listed here: Passport/Identity Card; Fiscal Number (Numero de Contribuinte); Proof of Address; Bank Account Details.

Once you have signed the contract for installation it can take around a week to have your line and number activated.  If there is already a telephone connection point installed within the property the line will simply need activating.

Mobile Telephones in Portugal

Mobile telephones are big business in Portugal, which is often used by companies as a testing ground for new technology. In June 2006 there were 11.738 million mobile phones in use and the number if rising.

There are three mobile networks in Portugal: TMN, which is a subsidiary of Portugal Telecom; Vodafone and Optimus. Mobile phones in Portugal are offered on a 'pay as you go' or contract basis. You can also simply purchase the 'Sim' Card to insert into your existing mobile.

Purchasing a Portuguese mobile phone is a good ideal if you are to remain in the country for any length of time. The cost of calling both nationally and internationally using a Portuguese mobile, is significantly cheaper than using a UK mobile. You will not be charged for calls to a Portuguese phone unlike a phone from another country. However if you do not use your mobile for over three months it may be blocked by the provider.

To purchase a 'pay as you go' mobile phone you will only need to provide your name and address. However if you want to sign up for a contract phone you will need the following documentation: Passport/Identity Card; Proof of address and your Fiscal Number.

If you choose a 'pay as you go' mobile, topping up with credit is as easy. There are a variety of outlets where this can be done for you, or you can top up yourself using the 'MultiBancos'.

Internet Phones in Portugal

Advances in technology mean it is also possible to keep in touch with friends, family and work through internet phones, which are even more cost effective than normal land line telephones.

After downloading the relevant software onto your computer you can call regular telephones or mobiles for a fraction of the cost and in some cases for free. The two leading providers of this software are Skype and Voip Stunt.

Making Telephone Calls to and From Portugal

The international dialling code for Portugal is 351, however this must have the prefix 00. It is pertinent to remember to drop the first 0 (zero) of an area code or mobile phone to ensure you dial the correct number.

If you are calling to a foreign mobile to someone in Portugal you must insert the prefix 00 and the relevant country code, remembering to drop the first zero of the telephone number.