All municipalities had 5G coverage in the third quarter, as well as 62% of parishes in the country, according to data from the National Communications Authority (Anacom), released today.
“At the end of the 3rd quarter of 2023, according to information reported to Anacom, the number of base stations installed in the national territory with 5G technology amounted to 8.226, distributed across 308 municipalities (the totality of municipalities in the country) and by 1.924 parishes (62% of parishes in the country)”, informed the regulatory entity.
Between June and August, the number of 5G base stations installed increased by 5% compared to the previous quarter, corresponding to 395 new stations.
The number of parishes in which there are 5G stations grew by 5%, of which a further 10% in low-density parishes, corresponding to 86 new stations, and 1% in parishes in the Autonomous Regions, with two more new stations.
The total area of parishes where there are no 5G stations represents 27% of the national territory and, according to the 2021 Census, corresponds to around 10% of the national population.
According to the regulator, NOS continues to be the operator that, to date, has installed the most 5G base stations, followed by Vodafone and MEO.
Regarding the variation in the number of stations installed compared to the previous quarter, NOS grew by 4% (+ 164 stations), Vodafone by 7% (+ 181 stations) and MEO by 4% (+ 50 stations).
Taking the end of the 3rd quarter as a reference, NOS is the operator that installed the largest number of 5G base stations, totaling 3.889 stations (47%), followed by Vodafone with 2.950 stations (36%) and MEO with 1.387 stations (17%).
Regarding the density of 5G base stations in Portugal, it was observed that at the end of the quarter under analysis this was, on average, approximately one base station for every 11 km2.
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