LISBON, Dec. 5 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva reiterated here on Thursday that the Portuguese government will abide by strict domestic and European Union (EU) regulations in its planned public tender for the next-generation 5G mobile network.
At the joint press conference with visiting U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, Santos Silva said Portugal will not exclude any company from competing in a planned public tender for 5G network.
Santos Silva said that bids from 5G operators in Portugal will be assessed in accordance with the Portuguese and EU regulations, adding that all foreign investment is welcome.
The Portuguese government has said that it would not choose investors based on nationality, and that the market chooses according to the best business conditions.
Portugal's telecommunications market regulator, the National Communications Authority (Anacom), announced in October to hold an auction next year to allocate 5G frequencies to operators.
Local telecommunications operator NOS announced late October that it has fully covered Matosinhos, the northern city of Porto district, making it "the first" fifth generation mobile city in Portugal.
