Portuguese telecommunications and information technologies : Development and prospects

The Portuguese telecommunications environment has been changing rapidly in recent years. A country which has traditionally kept itself independent from the affairs of other European states, Portugal has altered its course since entry into the European Community. The current government is following policies of deregulation and privatization of the telecommunications infrastructure with the goal of reducing inefficiencies and increasing innovation in technology, services and management. Telephone services have been partially privatized, new services (including packet-switching and videotex) have been developed and private television broadcasting will soon be introduced. Critics of these policies are concerned about the degree to which Portugal can maintain its cultural and political autonomy in the face of increasing foreign influence.