This loss - according to accounts made by Expansão, based on data from the National Institute of Communications - represents a reduction of around 45 percent compared to the approximately 2.7 million subscribers that the operator had about three years ago.
The list of reasons for leaving Movicel includes the poor quality of voice and internet services, thus justifying the migration to Unitel.
In addition to the service, the crisis also had an impact on customers' decisions: several citizens had active cards from both operators, and ended up opting for just one.
Speaking to Expansão, António Gaspar explained that "it is difficult to maintain the two operators, in these times of financial squeeze".
"We are forced to leave Movicel for having less quality", he added.
Unitel has been solidifying its position in the telecommunications world: at the end of the third quarter of 2021, about nine out of ten citizens who use mobile phones were Unitel customers. Compared to the end of 2019, the operator experienced a growth of around 9.6 percent in terms of the number of customers, which currently stands at around 13.3 million.
