As regards the provision of public telecommunications services and networks, it appears that Portugal Telecom is entrusted with a service of general economic interest pursuant to Section III of its Public Service Telecommunications Concession approved by Decree-Law No 40/95 of 15 February (8). Under its concession contract, Portugal Telecom has a universal service obligation in respect of the provision of fixed telephone, telex, telegraphy and data transmission services.
The latest survey evidence in the Community shows that significant proportions of residential users are now opting for mobile telephone service only (in place of fixed line service) and that, if anything, lower income households are as likely or more likely to have mobile only subscriptions as are higher income households.