New “smart” submarine cable

for Azores and Madeira

The Jornal in Madeira reports that the new submarine cables that will connect the mainland to the islands will have a ‘smart’ component, “giving a strategic component in several dimensions”, according to the proposed law of the State Budget for 2023 released yesterday.

Next year, the Government “will continue to promote Portugal’s geostrategic positioning within the scope of international connectivity, aiming to support the digital transformation of society and the economy, attract foreign investment in technological infrastructure within the scope of digital ecosystems, improve Portuguese competitiveness in the economy global digital platform and increase national technological autonomy”.

Electronic communications “between Mainland Portugal and the Autonomous Regions of the Azores and Madeira are currently ensured through a system of submarine cables, whose obsolescence forecast points to the years 2024 and 2025″, points out the executive, noting that ” the replacement of this Atlantic Platform aims to fulfil the objectives of strengthening national territorial cohesion, ensuring internal connectivity and training for the promotion of international interconnections”.

The new infrastructure, he adds, “will also allow for a strengthening of research initiatives, through the implementation of a ‘smart’ component in the new submarine cables (sensing and data processing), giving a strategic component in several dimensions, such as defence and national security”, stresses the Government led by António Costa.

State-of-the-art intelligent submarine cables

Recently, in parliament, the president of the Autoridade Nacional de Comunicações (Anacom), João Cadete de Matos, defended that the “new ring of submarine cables is strategic” for Portugal and of “great relevance” for the Azores and Madeira and classified of “essential” that they are ‘smart’, which in addition to the area of ​​electronic communications, have sensors that can be used for scientific research, environmental protection and to have earthquake or tsunami alerts, as they cross several tectonic plates.

“At the same time, this Platform will provide Portugal with better conditions of attractiveness and competitiveness for the mooring of submarine cables, as well as for investments in the digital market linked to the connectivity strategy”, that is, “installation of data storage and computing centres and commercial exploitation of data and systems, technological and innovation areas and scientific exploitation of data, among others”, says the Government, in the state budget. In essence, these are state-of-the-art intelligent submarine cables.

“The improvement of the connection between the different territories of Portugal, together with the possibility of introducing sensors, clearly reflects Portugal’s strategy in the context of the Atlantic, asserting itself as a competent manager of a vast oceanic area, reinforcing its the monitoring capacity of marine protected areas and promoting national resilience in the face of major natural disasters”, concludes the executive.