|
Vodafone Portugal is the second largest operator on the Portuguese Telecommunications market, where it focuses on mobile voice and data services. Operating a nationwide GSM cellular network, it pioneered UMTS services in Portugal at the beginning of 2004. Vodafone Portugal also provides fixed services, as a complement to its mobile offer, especially dedicated to the corporate segment. Holding the second largest share of the total Telecommunications service market revenues, behind the long-established operator, Vodafone Portugal is recognized as the most innovative and customer-oriented operator on the Portuguese mobile market and one of the best international cellular operators. | ||||||
THE COMPANY AND THE MARKET |
Vodafone Portugal's 1992 entry onto the
market, at that time completely monopolized by the public operator,
radically changed the prevailing perception of the cell phone, which
up until then was viewed as a status symbol or a tool reserved for
an elite with high purchasing power. Challenging that image, Vodafone
Portugal introduced the concept of a useful, accessible and adequate
service for a variety of customers' communication needs. Vodafone
Portugal became the Portuguese cellular market’s main development
and growth engine, profoundly changing the mobile telecommunications
scene
in Portugal.
|
||||||
COVERAGE |
Since October 1992, Vodafone Portugal has been operating
a nationwide GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) cellular network
(currently on the 900 MHz and 1800 MHz bands) covering approximately
100% of the population of mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions
of the Azores and Madeira. In June 2005, the Vodafone Portugal 3G network reached 72% of the country’s population, via more than 1,400 base stations covering 120 cities on the mainland and islands. |
 |
|||||
CUSTOMER SUPPORT SERVICE |
Vodafone Portugal was the first Portuguese company
to provide a customer Support Service available 24 hours a day, every
day
of the year, enabling us to maintain a close relationship with our
customers. In 1998, our customer Support Service was certified according
to the
international ISO9002 Quality standard, as proof of the existence of
a quality methodology, with our becoming the first telecommunications
operator call center to obtain this certification in Portugal. Vodafone Portugal also offers specialized customer support services according to customer segments (residential, corporate or youth) and the service itself (mobile, Internet or fixed network). In November 2003, the quality of our call center service was honored with the Call Center Trophy, presented at the 5th Call Center & CRM Solutions Expo. This trophy is awarded to the company whose Call Center provides outstanding customer care in terms of speed, friendliness, efficiency and accuracy. Vodafone Portugal won the Trophy, ranking first in the telecommunications sector, ahead of the other mobile and fixed telecom operators. Since April 2005, Vodafone Portugal customers are able to video call our Customer Care Service. This reflects the growth in our base of 3G customers and our focus on continuing to develop useful and innovative third generation services. |
||||||
THE VODAFONE BRAND |
Having started out in October 1992 operating under the brandname of
Telecel, the company began to be known as Telecel Vodafone in January
2001, initiating a successful brand migration process that ended in
the adoption of the Vodafone brand in October of that year. This process,
reflecting our company's link to the world's largest mobile communications
group, was simultaneously put in place by other European Vodafone Group
operators. In fact, Vodafone Portugal was the first in the Group to
be completely ready to make the definitive brandname change.
Being part of a group of this nature and size enables us to offer customers even more competitive prices, together with new, and ever better and more distinctive services and equipment, while benefiting from a powerful brand name, recognized throughout the world, and providing services to more than 151 million customers spread over 26 countries. In October 2005, Vodafone Portugal announced a new approach to communicating with its customers. The most obvious aspects of this image repositioning are, initially, a change in the design of the Vodafone logo and a new Vodafone communication platform, with the now famous question ‘How are you?’ changing in Portugal to ‘Viva o momento’ (Make the most of now) followed by the word ‘NOW’. In addition to this ‘signature’, a whole new communication platform will be used internally and externally, involving the media and Vodafone Shops, and other Vodafone brand applications. This, as mentioned previously, is based on ‘Viva o momento. NOW’. A concept that reflects one of the benefits most highly valued by customers: help with managing modern life’s scarcest resource: time. The new way of communicating the Vodafone brand will therefore represent a standing invitation to our customers to make the most of each moment by taking advantage of the unique capabilities of Vodafone services in three major dimensions: communication, information and entertainment. |
||||||
SHAREHOLDER STRUCTURE |
Vodafone Portugal is wholly owned by the Vodafone Group. From December 1996 up until May 2003, the company was listed on the Euronext Lisbon, presenting one of the Portuguese market’s highest capitalizations and one of its highest increases in value since our coming onto the stock market. | ||||||
FUTURE PROSPECTS |
It is the intention of Vodafone Portugal to
continue differentiating itself as the most innovative and most customer-oriented
operator in Portugal,
with the most competitive offer and to maintain its leadership in the
introduction
of non-voice services. The company was the first operator to launch 3rd
Generation/UMTS in Portugal and, as was the case with GSM/GPRS, intends
to be this market’s principal driving force in Portugal, thereby
continuing to make a major contribution to the development of the Information
and Knowledge Society in Portugal. Drawing strength from its global synergies, Vodafone Portugal will continue to focus heavily on 3G and maintain its strong differentiation, specifically through: coverage by a comprehensive network of superior quality and scope; the variety and quality of its handsets, introduced first onto the market and offering a clear advantage in quality/price terms; the variety and quality of the content of its Vodafone live! portal, capturing international and, in many cases, exclusive content; and aggressive and markedly ‘new and cool’ advertising aimed at young, technologically-minded users. Vodafone Portugal therefore continues to be well-positioned to achieve its strategic objectives: to continue to be a growing company and the most innovative in the marketplace, to create the most respected and consistent mobile communications brand, to delight customers with its service, to achieve the most competitive cost structure on the market, to have the best qualified and most motivated employees, to achieve a high level of credibility within the Vodafone Group, benefiting from the advantages of being part of a group, and to position Vodafone Portugal among the most ethical and socially- responsible companies in Portugal. |
||||||
| Sector | Telecommunications |
| Firm | Vodafone Portugal |
| Location | Lisboa |
| Address | Parque das Nações Av. D. João II - Lote 1.04.01- 8º E Piso - Ala Sul |
| Postal Code | 1990-017 Lisboa |
| Contact | Mrs. Luísa
Pestana Director, Corporate Communications, Governance Support and Corporate Social Responsibility |
| Web site | www.vodafone.pt |
| press.pt@vodafone.com | |
| Phone | +351.21. 0915252 |
| Fax | +351.21. 0915480 |
| Do you want to contact
us? Please fill out form |
