ANACOM clamps down on blackmarket telco

Portuguese telecoms regulator Autoridade Nacional de Comunicacoes (ANACOM) has reportedly taken action against a blackmarket telecoms operator which is active in the towns of Viseu, Moimenta da Beira and Vila Nova de Paiva. The unnamed company provoked the ire of Portugal Telecom Comunicacoes (PTC), whose technicians observed that the company’s infrastructure was being re-routed to provide broadband connections to non-PTC customers. The illegal operator is alleged to be charging EUR15 (USD19.4) for broadband, with cable TV also available for a supplementary fee of EUR10. Understandably, the mystery provider signs no contracts and issues no invoices. TeleGeography notes that a PTC ADSL subscription is currently priced at EUR24.99 per month. According to local media reports ANACOM is in the process of dismantling the ad-hoc network.