Fibre optic multiplexers will be installed in over 8,700 buildings across the Trás-os-Montes region, bringing high-speed internet to around 32,600 households in this part of the country.
According to telecoms company dstelecom, the expansion will cover the municipalities of Vila Pouca de Aguiar in the district of Vila Real, and Macedo de Cavaleiros, Alfândega da Fé, and Mogadouro in the district of Bragança. The rollout is expected to be completed by the end of October.
“We’re investing in a robust, neutral infrastructure that allows citizens and businesses – even in remote areas – to enjoy the same digital resources available in major urban centres. Our aim is clear: to contribute to a more cohesive, more competitive country that is better prepared for the digital future,” said Ricardo Salgado, managing director of dstelecom, in a press release.
With this expansion, the Braga-based company says around 32,600 families in the region will be able to access high-speed internet services, helping to reduce digital inequalities and promote equal opportunities in terms of access to technology.
In Vila Pouca de Aguiar, the infrastructure will be significantly extended to parishes that previously had no coverage, such as Tresminas and the Union of the Parishes of Pensalvos and Parada de Monteiros, and strengthened in areas like Alvão, Bragado, and Capeludos.
“In total, more than 1,500 new homes will be connected, bringing fibre coverage in the municipality up to 96%,” the company noted.
In Macedo de Cavaleiros, areas such as Bagueixe, Chacim, Morais, Podence and twelve other previously uncovered parishes will now be connected to the network. This means over 4,500 new homes will gain access to the infrastructure, with coverage in the municipality reaching 86%.
“There will also be enhancements in areas such as Amendoeira, Sezulfe, and the municipal centre,” the company added.
In Alfândega da Fé, the project marks a true digital transformation for the municipality.
“Until now, only two parishes had fibre optic coverage. With the connection of 2,100 new homes, dstelecom’s network will reach every parish in the municipality, raising coverage to 98%,” the tech firm explained.
In Mogadouro, the expansion will connect 660 new homes, increasing coverage to 70%, with new links in Castro Vicente, Meirinhos and Valverde, focusing on boosting connectivity beyond the urban centres.
The dstelecom network also ensures that residents can freely choose between different telecoms providers, encouraging competition and helping to ensure better prices and a wider range of services.
The company says it was founded in 2008 with the mission of overcoming geographical barriers and ensuring that all Portuguese people — from the coast to the interior — have the same opportunity to connect with the world through state-of-the-art communication networks.
To achieve this, it has built, operates, and maintains the first and largest multi-operator fibre optic network in Europe, focusing on areas in Portugal with the greatest digital needs, and now reaching 149 municipalities.
The Portuguese firm is also positioning itself to replicate the multi-operator model for mobile networks, including 5G, and for submarine cables.
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