There are a lot of pros to buying a new-build property, such as an apartment, in Portugal, particularly as they’re often better insulated against noise and damp. One thing you mightn’t have thought about, however, is whether you can get fibre internet at your new-build property.
You would assume so, particularly if it’s in the city centre, but telecommunications expert Fernando Mendes says it isn’t always as simple as that.
It’s very important that you ask the developer what the plans are before you purchase a property in a new build. Very often it can take several months for an internet service provider to connect up a new building apartment block, and this is only after a request has been put into the provider.
If it’s in a city and the wires need to be run underground, this typically requires permission from the city hall, which can further delay things. But essentially, the best thing you can do is speak to the developer to see what plans are in place to get the building connected to fibre.
So, the takeaway is that yes, you probably will be able to get it if it’s in a fibre zone. However, the process for getting fibre installed can take months. As you sometimes have a little leverage when buying a property, it’s a good idea to emphasise the importance of this with the developer and to ensure that they’re in conversations with at least one internet service provider to get the apartment block connected up.
In the meantime, there are other options such as 4G internet. This is available on a prepaid basis or a contract basis. The contract option is often slightly better since the router is larger, but it may not be the best option if you’re likely to get the internet installed within the next two years – the typical length of a Portuguese internet contract.