The Municipality of Alandroal will be the first Portuguese municipality to be part of the 5G.RURAL project, an initiative that aims to promote digital inclusion and connectivity in low population density territories through the implementation of fifth generation technology. The presentation of the project will take place on 31 May, the same day as the inauguration of the Juromenha Fortress redevelopment works and the new Interpretive Centre installed inside it.

The initiative, led by a consortium made up of dstelecom, NOS, innovationpoint/dstgroup and IrRADIARE, will enable sectors such as health, education, agriculture, culture and tourism to be leveraged through the creation of a 5G network infrastructure with a ‘neutral host’ model. The project was developed as part of a European strategy to combat territorial asymmetries and the digital inclusion of rural populations.

For the mayor of Alandroal, João Grilo, the arrival of 5G technology represents ‘a new era of connectivity for all those who live here, those who want to come here and those who visit us’. The mayor also emphasised the importance of the project for business competitiveness and for strengthening social support and health services, referring to the possibility of ‘online consultations by videoconference’, which is particularly important in an ageing population such as Portugal's.

The ceremony on 31 May includes the presentation of the 5G antenna and the dst Itinerant Culture Van, which will take cultural content to various villages. The Juromenha Interpretive Centre will also be inaugurated, an interactive museum space that uses technologies such as augmented reality and immersive environments, providing new ways of visiting the monument.

The total investment in the refurbishment of the Juromenha Fortress amounts to 5.36 million euros, 82 per cent of which will come from Alentejo 2020 and 2030 funds and support from the European Investment Bank. The monument, classified as a building of public interest, was in an advanced state of disrepair. ‘If we didn't do anything, it would be impossible to restore,’ emphasised João Grilo, highlighting the symbolism of the intervention and the link between heritage and technological innovation.

The ‘Sounds of the River’ cultural programme, part of 5G.RURAL, will be marked by a concert-lecture by conductor Martim Sousa Tavares, broadcast in real time to the village of Pias via the new 5G network. Artist Mário Lopes will create a public piece inspired by the River Guadiana, reinforcing the municipality's commitment to cultural promotion.

With the realisation of this project, Alandroal is positioning itself as a pilot territory for the development of intelligent and inclusive communities, where technology is placed at the service of social cohesion and the enhancement of heritage.

Source: SAPO