The Parish Council of São Bartolomeu de Messines has acquired a Starlink satellite internet connection. This new infrastructure provides the council with full communication and energy autonomy, even in extreme emergency scenarios such as severe storms, power outages, or failures of traditional mobile network operators.
The satellite communication device, unlike conventional mobile phones, does not rely on terrestrial antennas. It connects directly to satellites in Earth orbit, enabling calls and message sending even in remote locations without cellular coverage, such as disaster zones or hard-to-reach areas.
The installation of this equipment is part of the “Freguesias Ligadas” (Connected Parishes) program, promoted by the Government through the PTRR – Portugal, Transformation, Recovery and Resilience project. The goal is for all parishes in the country to have this resource by the end of the current year to ensure communication with authorities and Civil Protection in cases of serious emergencies or catastrophes.
This technological provision enhances the operational capacity of the Parish Council of São Bartolomeu de Messines in protecting and safeguarding the population. The parish, which is large in territorial extent and historically affected by risks of forest fires and adverse weather, considers this equipment particularly important for its resilience.
