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Anacom Seeks to Acquire Building in Lisbon to Avoid High Rents

4 August 2018

An announcement was published in the press and on the internet “for the sake of transparency.”

The Portuguese National Communications Authority (Anacom) wants to buy a building with more than 4,500 square meters in office area for its headquarters in Lisbon, aiming to lower its rental payments, which currently cost the agency approximately 1.2 million euros per year.

Anacom will, therefore, be collecting proposals for the property it intends to acquire in Lisbon for its headquarters up the 17th of this month. The building should have a floor area of ​​more than 4,500 square meters, according to an announcement on Anacom’s website this week.

Queried by the Lusa news agency, the telecommunications regulator explained that, taking into account the two actual rental agreements it has in the building on Avenida José Malhoa, in the Lisbon district of Campolide, Anacom “currently pays an annual charge of around 1.2 million euros,” equivalent to close to 100,000 euros per month.

Thus, “replacing such contracts with a property [owned by Anacom] would lead to a significant and permanent reduction in operating costs,” Anacom said.

“The acquisition will lead to a significant improvement in the working conditions and increased efficiency in the company’s activities. These days, both the renewal of the leases and any improvements in the premises are dependent on the owners and hinder properly planned management and efficient use of resources,” Anacom said in its response to Lusa.

At the same time, the “acquisition of a [new home for the company] will have a favourable effect on Anacom’s annual net income and, therefore, a positive contribution to the State Budget’s revenues associated with spectrum management,” Anacom, which is led by João Cadet of Matos, emphasised.

The regulator said that “the impact will also be favourable regarding the potential reduction of regulatory rates since the investment will be made using its own resources and will not require resources from the State Budget.”

According to Anacom, the amount depends on factors such as “analysis to be carried out” and “cost/benefit.”

The announcement was published in the press and on the internet “for the sake of transparency”, the regulator told Lusa.

Original Story: Cmjornal.pt / Lusa

Translation: Richard Turner