CHAPTER I General Provisions Section 1 Purpose The purpose of the present Decree-Law is to establish the general bases for establishing, managing and operating telecommunications infrastructure and the provision of telecommunications services. Section 2 General Principles 1. The present Decree-Law and the legal regime arising therefrom shall ensure the satisfaction of the basic requirements for providing telecommunications services to the populations and public and private entities from the various activity sectors, through the creation of conditions conducive to the development and diversification of services of this nature. 2. The objective defined in subsection 2.1 shall conform to the following basic principles: (a) Ensure the existence and availability of a universal service, consisting of a minimum range of telecommunications services provided within the national territory, on a permanent basis, with adequate quality conditions and at prices that can be afforded by all users; (b) Ensure the financial and economic feasibility of the universal service through the granting of exclusivity in the provision of certain telecommunications services and the establishment of a compensation fund; (c) Ensure that providers of competitive services are granted equal access to the market, while observing the rules for protecting competition; (d) Ensure that users, under similar circumstances, are given equal treatment in the access to and use of telecommunications services. Section 3 Classification 1- Telecommunications means the transmission, reception or emission of a signal, representing symbols, writing, images, sounds or information of any nature by way of wires, optical systems, by electronic means or by other electromagnetic systems. 2- Depending on the nature of a user, telecommunications are classified as public or private. 3. Public telecommunications are deemed to be those which aim to meet the generic collective need to transmit and receive messages and information.