The full coverage of Corvo Island materializes the commitment made by Altice Portugal's Executive Committee on its last visit to the region, in September 2022. A wave of new investments in networks, technology and innovation, which included the expansion of optical fibre and the modernization of the archipelago's entire mobile network.
With one of the highest coverage rates in the country, the Azores archipelago now has around 94% optical fiber coverage and 72.8% 5G network coverage, with 30 5G mobile network stations.
"A year ago we made a commitment to the Regional Government and to all Azoreans to put the Azores at the top of our priorities. Today, we are taking another step towards this goal by announcing the full fiber optic coverage of Corvo Island. This is a significant contribution by Altice Portugal to mitigating territorial inequalities, indicative of its investment in the development of local economies and the country as a whole," says Ana Figueiredo, CEO of Altice Portugal.
In line with its strategy in terms of innovation and quality of service, Altice Portugal is maintaining and strengthening its commitment to expanding its mobile network, state-of-the-art core infrastructures and the expansion of its fiber optic network in Portugal. Altice Portugal remains at the forefront of innovation and technological progress, reaching, by the second quarter of 2023, 6.3 million homes passed with fiber throughout the country, and 95% of the population with 5G and 99.9% with 4G.
Leading in sustainability is also one of the goals that Altice Portugal has set itself until 2030. With the aim of continuing to modernize its network, guaranteeing the best quality of service, Altice Portugal has been replacing its copper network with optical fibre throughout the country. Now, this infrastructure, which will fully cover Corvo Island, will make it possible to optimize the potential of the 4G and 5G network, improve the consumer and business experience by using more efficient technologies, and contribute to environmental sustainability. This is an inevitable move given the evolution of technology and the digitalization of the country, which Altice has led, and which is happening at European and global level.
Altice Portugal's 100% fiber coverage plan kicked off in 2019 with the aim of making Portugal the first country in Europe with virtually full fiber optic coverage. This goal was quickly achieved, helping to increase digital inclusion and promote economic development, as well as accelerating the digital skills of society as a whole.