dstelecom wants to bring the same digital resources available in urban centres to rural areas, contributing ‘to a more cohesive, competitive country that is better prepared for the digital future’.

Multi-operator fibre optics will reach more than 8,700 buildings in the Trás-os-Montes region, serving around 32,600 families in this part of the country, it was announced on Wednesday.

According to dstelecom, this expansion will serve the municipalities of Vila Pouca de Aguiar, in the district of Vila Real, and Macedo de Cavaleiros, Alfândega da Fé Mogadouro, in the district of Bragança, in an operation that is expected to be completed by the end of October.

‘We are investing in a robust and neutral infrastructure that will allow citizens and businesses, even in remote areas, to enjoy the same digital resources that exist in large urban centres. Our goal is clear: to contribute to a more cohesive, more competitive country that is better prepared for the digital future,’ said Ricardo Salgado, general director of dstelecom, quoted in a statement.

According to this Braga-based company, with this expansion, around 32,600 families in the region will be able to access high-speed internet services, which will reduce digital asymmetries and promote equal opportunities in access to technology," says the telecommunications company.

Also according to the company, in Vila Pouca de Aguiar, the infrastructure will be significantly expanded, reaching parishes that until now had no coverage, such as Tresminas and the Union of Parishes of Pensalvos and Parada de Monteiros, and strengthening the service in locations such as Alvão, Bragado and Capeludos.

‘In total, more than 1,500 new homes will be connected, which will allow 96% fibre coverage in the municipality,’ it said.

In Macedo de Cavaleiros, locations such as Bagueixe, Chacim, Morais, Podence and twelve other parishes that have so far been excluded from the fibre network will be integrated into the network. More than 4,500 new homes will have access to the infrastructure, in a municipality that will now have 86% coverage.

‘There will also be reinforcement in the areas of Amendoeira, Sezulfe and the municipal seat,’ he stressed.

For Alfândega da Fé, the operation represents a true digital transformation in the municipality.

‘Until now, only two parishes had fibre optic coverage. With the connection of 2,100 new homes, the “dstelecom” network will now cover all parishes in the municipality, increasing coverage of the territory to 98%,’ says the technology company.

In the case of Mogadouro, the expansion operation will cover 660 new homes, which will allow the municipality to see its coverage rise to 70%, with new connections in Castro Vicente, Meirinhos and Valverde, with a focus on expanding connectivity outside urban centres.

The dstelecom network also ensures that residents can freely choose between different telecommunications operators, fostering competition and ensuring better prices and greater diversity of services.

This company claims to have been founded in 2008 with the mission of eliminating geographical barriers and allowing all Portuguese people — from the coast to the interior — to have the same opportunity to interact with the world through the most modern communications networks.

To this end, it has built, operates and maintains Europe's first and largest multi-operator fibre optic network in areas of Portugal where there is a greater digital divide, reaching 149 Portuguese municipalities.

The national company has been positioning itself to replicate the multi-operator model in the mobile network, with 5G, and in submarine cables.

Source: Observador