In September 2020, Fibroglobal and the Institute of Telecommunications signed a protocol, with a view to enhancing the development of scientific research projects, within the scope of the use of submarine telecommunications cables for the study of the detection and early warning of earthquakes and tsunamis.

Following Public Tenders and contracts signed with the Portuguese State, Fibroglobal has installed, manages and operates high-speed electronic communications networks in the Central Zone and in the Autonomous Region of the Azores. In the latter, the network includes a submarine fibre optic cable between the islands of Faial, Flores, Corvo and Graciosa. The networks in place have enabled access to high-speed internet and other advanced services, such as telemedicine, distance learning and e-government, making an important contribution to removing an obstacle to growth, innovation and social and territorial cohesion and to reducing the so-called "digital divide" that separates these areas from the rest of the country.

For more information see https://www.fibroglobal.com 

The Institute of Telecommunications (IT) is a private non-profit institution, founded in 1992, an association of Portuguese Universities and Companies with research and development experience in Telecommunications and Information Technologies. It has been an Associate Laboratory of the State since 2001. With a team of more than 300 PhD researchers, its mission is to create and disseminate knowledge in this area at a global level, support Master's and PhD students, transfer technology to the industrial fabric, and support the response of public policies to national and global challenges. IT has skills in radio communications, optical communications, multimedia, communication networks and basic support sciences. For more information see www.it.pt.

Since 2018, the Institute of Telecommunications (IT) has been promoting a scientific research initiative for the use of submarine telecommunications cables for the study of the detection of seismic events and evaluation of the improvement of the reliability of earthquake and tsunami early warning systems, in  partnership with the Portuguese Institute of the Sea and Atmosphere and the Dom Luiz Institute, within the scope of the LEA – Listening to the Earth under the Atlantic initiative, which brings together the three organizations.

In this context, Fibroglobal will provide access to optical fiber in the submarine cable it owns, allowing the installation by IT of its measurement equipment, as well as information collected within the scope of the operation of said cable.
Access to Fibroglobal's submarine telecommunications infrastructure, in a region of great relevance from a seismological point of view, will allow us to develop pioneering experiences worldwide, and to better understand the potential of submarine cables for monitoring seismic events, as well as the applications of these new methodologies to civil protection. This is very innovative scientific research, which will help to better understand the functioning of our planet, and at the same time opens the prospect of more reliable warning methods for the protection of populations and coastal resilience. And it has the potential to make Portugal one of the world leaders in this field.
About LEA – Listening to the Earth under the Atlantic

Video and presentation available at: https://www.aircentre.org/netfridays-yasser-omar/

For more information, please contact:

Yasser Omar (Instituto Superior Técnico e Instituto de Telecomunicações):
yasser.omar@tecnico.ulisboa.pt
+351933552656

Carlos Oliveira (Fibroglobal)
carlosoliveira@fibroglobal.com
+351966025802