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Luís Alveirinho, Jason Inácio and Zeinal Bava
presented the process of deploying
optical fibre to José Sócrates |
After the presentation of the strategy of Next-Generation Network (NGN) implementation and the commercial launch of fibre-optic access, Portugal Telecom was visited by members of the government who got acquainted with the investment that Portugal’s leading telecommunications provider is making, enabling optical fibre to reach the home of all Portuguese.
In Perafita, Matosinhos, in the presence of a few technicians, Zeinal Bava had the chance of demonstrating the process of optical fibre deployment to the prime-minister. Mario Lino, Minister for Public Works, Transportation and Communications and the Assistant State Secretary for Public Works and Communications, Paulo Campos, were also present.
Being the meeting point a residential zone in that city, the job executed by the technicians of installing the network from the point where the cables leave the ducts, the process of fusion of the fibre, and lastly performing the connection to the infrastructure of the building was being done at the same time as Jason Inácio, Customer and Infrastructure Operations department, explained the process. Luís Alveirinho, Network Planning and Implementation, clarified a few details related to the development of the project in that city.
The network that announces a new future
Highlight went to the benefits from an investment that imposes a revolution not only in technological, but also in social and economic terms. Zeinal Bava stressed once again the goal of making Portugal the third most wired country in the world with fibre-optic access, right after Korea and Japan.
This year, PT expects to invest Euro 720 million and pass fibre-optic access to one million homes: an investment that PT believes will become a success, given the clear enthusiasm of the Portuguese for technological development.
Considering the current economic and financial context, José Sócrates stressed its major impact on job creation. PT had already announced, which was reminded by Zeinal Bava, that it will create five thousand jobs, directly or indirectly, added to the knowledge that may be exported to the countries where the company is present.
But there will be other benefits too. In terms of internet surfing experience, the decrease in the asymmetry between download and upload speeds was also underlined by PT’s chief executive. As to the television experience, “customers will be very well served as they will have a future-proof network available”, which will enable the introduction of 3-D television.
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Highlight went to the advantages of optical fibre for society |
The prime-minister stressed the relevance of passing fibre-optic access to hospitals, healthcare centres and schools, investments already underway. In terms of education, PT announced in September 2008 a pilot-project promoted in the scope of the government’s Techno logical Plan that took broadband to 100 schools throughout the country. In the scope of Healthcare, PT has also been a primary player in Information Society development by implementing innovative solutions, clearly benefited by NGN implementation.
For Zeinal Bava, equally important will be the passing of optical fibre to elderly homes, as a way of revolutionising elderly communication and follow-up by their families. The chief executive officer also mentioned that fibre allows a significant dematerialisation as it is a “greener” technology.
The day’s program also included a visit to Cabelte in Vila Nova de Gaia, PT’s partner in fibre-optic development. For PT, these partnerships are strategic for the viability of fibre-optic deployment in Portugal. PT Inovação’s contribution is also strategic as it has created technologies allowing to meet this new challenge. This subsidiary is responsible for the development of equipment such as the ONT – Optical Network Terminals – that enable fibre-optic distribution at the customer’s premises, and the OLT – Optical Line Terminals – which will be installed as of now.