Estradas de Portugal and Portugal Telecom are disputing ownership of the fixed network conduits that were built under the highways, reports Diário Económico today. The divergence has led to the impediment of PT teams’ access to these conducts and could end up in court.
According to the same newspaper, the infrastructure involved is valued at tens of millions of euros, which were built by the State when it owned the two companies.
Different interpretations of the network purchase contract by PT from the State now motivate the divergences, Estradas de Portugal understanding that this contract concerned the copper network itself, and other equipment, such as switches, but not the ducts, which will be theirs. property. Speaking to the ED, Estradas de Portugal rejects however the idea that there is a conflict with PT.
The Diário Económico says that this issue has been discussed at the highest level between the two companies and the dispute will have already had an effect on the ground, with teams from the telecommunications operator being prevented from accessing the ducts.
The outcome of this arm wrestling may set a precedent, giving entities that never made the infrastructure profitable – such as municipalities and property developers – the chance to rent them out to PT, as Brisa and Refer already do.
