“Blackout”: Cairesple lessons and satellite communication – opinion

By a crucial Sunday Terasa

The “blackout” of April 28 has once again come to test the skills of emergency communication in Portugal. In the coordination of this crisis, the importance of reducing dependence on earthly infrastructure has once again become clear. Resolutions on the operation of Sairesp (Portugal’s Integrated Emergency and Security Network System) are now used in relation to European activities on their version and satellite communication challenge.

Cirespin is a national network dedicated to complex communication. There are about 550 base stations, order centers and mobile units, including security forces, civil defense, armed forces, others. Although the 2017 satellite has made repeated investments, the “blackout” incident has shown that the network is still harmful.

In response, the government has created a working group with representatives of various organizations (AnAPC, CNCS, CNCS, GNS, GNR, PSP, Inem, in others), in 90 days, a technical-voluntary study on the version or replacement of the survey.

Sovereignty and complexities in current satellite communication Multiple systems are available with advantages and disadvantages such as Starlink Network. The simplest access to this network of 7000 satellites has become a stone of basic activities in the conflict in Ukraine, but if not European, there is no complete guarantees for continuity. Recently open exchange of golchards between Dono

From this network – Elon Musk – and his client – Foreign Minister Polish Radossa Sikorski – made fear. European operators, such as the Utelsot, SES or Hispasat sovereignty, reduce the anxiety, but provide less agility, efficiency and access to access. To add to these private companies, some European states like Italy, Germany, France and Spain have government information satellites. However, sharing these resources safely is technical and politically complex theme.

European Response – Govsatkam Hub

The central aspect of the European Union response to this challenge is the Govsatkam Hub, which acts as an operational center that connects public entities to safe and integrated satellite information services. In practice, entities such as civil defense can compare options, but the hub acts as a special aspect of access to the specific needs that can meet specific needs.

The EU Agency for the Space Program (EUPSA) consortium has been handed over to GMV to conceive the platform. Our teams have been engaged since 2024 to engage Portuguese companies across the territory to draw a map of future civil and military consumer needs and requirements.

The system uses existing infrastructure, but by 2030, it will be reinforced with 300 iris satellites. The implementation of the implementation was scheduled in June and it was pending through the European Security Accreditation Council, with the National Security Office (GNS) participating. This will distribute access credits adjusted to the needs of national institutions.

This is the ideal time to address Govsatkam integration with national information systems. In the opposite direction, it has a special opportunity to inform the current working group resolutions to the Working Group and create a European program, strengthen the elasticity of emergency communication in Portugal, and increase the ability to respond to future crises.