The Chairman of ANACOM's Board of Directors presided over the working group (WG) set up under Despacho n.º 4805/2019https://www.anacom.pt/render.jsp?contentId=1497839 (Order no. 4805/2019) of 13 May of the Under Secretary of State and Communications to study and analyse the most suitable technical and financial configuration for the timely replacement of the submarine cables carrying communications between mainland Portugal, the Azores and Madeira (CAM). In addition to this authority, the WG also included representatives of the Regional Governments of the Azores and Madeira, the Ministries of Planning and of Infrastructures and Housing and the Secretariat of State for Communications.
The WG discussed the construction of a new CAM Ring for an Atlantic CAM Platform. It estimated that, as a whole (including submarine cable stations and adaptation for additional services), the project would represent an investment of around 119 million euros.
The WG produced a report, which was submitted to the Government on 23 December 2019. It included 12 scheduled recommendations, to fit in with the start of operations for the new CAM Ring within the deadline (2023) and lasting 25 years.
The WG recommended that the new CAM Ring should have the necessary configuration and sufficient capacity for the creation of a platform that would foster international connectivity (landing of submarine systems in mainland Portugal, the Azores and Madeira) and the ability to offer a number of services, such as:
- seismic detection for the issue of notices and warnings and collection of geophysical data;
- environmental measurements for scientific studies (oceanography, environment and climate change);
- detection of submarine activity;
- electronic portal for licensing submarine systems in Portugal’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ);
- protection and supervision of submarine cables in the EEZ;
- data transmission for scientific projects and networks;
- data storage (data centres);
- interconnection between operators and international systems.
Where the management model was concerned, the WG suggested setting up a neutral operator for the new CAM Ring.
As for funding, the WG pinpointed the need for public control and considered it essential to use community funds. Portugal should therefore flag this project as a priority.
The WG also alerted the Government to the need for the involvement of a number of ministries in the project and for coordination between the central and regional governments.
Finally, the WG recommended a subsequent analysis of the need to replace the interconnections in the Azores and Madeira archipelagos.
In conclusion, the WG considered that Portugal now had a unique, one-time opportunity to improve territorial cohesion and foster economic development in the CAM area over the next 25 years.
WG members attending the meeting.
Further information:
- Comunicado do Governo: substituição de cabos submarinos entre as regiões de Portugal é oportunidade para melhorar coesão territorial https://www.portugal.gov.pt/pt/gc22/comunicacao/comunicado?i=substituicao-de-cabos-submarinos-entre-as-regioes-de-portugal-e-oportunidade-para-melhorar-coesao-territorial
