Consumers should carefully evaluate several factors before signing a telecommunications contract. With numerous offers available, it is essential to ensure that one pays only for the services truly needed.
“Given the variety of telecommunications offers, consider multiple aspects before deciding, to ensure you are paying for the service you truly require“, advises DECO PROTeste on its website.
The monthly cost of telecommunications services is a significant expense for many households.
The consumer protection organization outlines four factors to consider before selecting a plan:
- There are tariffs for services provided via fiber optics, cable, ADSL, 4G or 5G, and satellite. For fixed services, check the available options at your installation location. If fiber service is available, choose it for better quality.
- Television, internet, and voice packages include fixed-line calls and are known as 3P or triple play. Packages that include television, internet, voice, and mobile are referred to as 4P or quadruple play and include mobile phone cards. However, do not assume that bundling services is always cheaper. Depending on usage and available tariffs, it may be beneficial to separate mobile services or choose another provider.
- The internet speed to contract depends on the available technology. For fiber connections, which are most common, consider a minimum speed of 100 Mbps. For remote work or frequent online gaming, a speed of over 200 Mbps may be advisable.
- Data included in the mobile phone card is another point to examine. Check your mobile usage, as both Android and iOS devices provide this information. To assess mobile network speed and quality, install the free QualRede app, available for Android and iOS, and access results from various operators in your area.
DECO PROTeste offers a simulator to help consumers identify the best tariff for their needs.
“Find out the monthly costs of the most popular plans, both with and without a mobile card. For other providers and speeds, consult DECO PROTeste’s simulator,” suggested by the consumer defense organization on their website.
You can access the simulator via this link.
According to the consumer protection association, each consumer may be able to recover between 14 and 30 euros on average, plus accrued interest since 2018, increasing the amount if the decision becomes definitive.
Beatriz Vasconcelos with Lusa | 07:49 – 23/09/2025
