Alcoutim council and telecoms supplier MEO have signed a deal, in which they undertake to "make efforts to increase fiber optic coverage throughout the Alcoutim municipality” to benefit locals, businesses and. Most importantly, the local council.
In a long-overdue effort to make the municipality “technologically more advanced,” MEO says it will try, wherever possible, “to provide access to its conduit system so that the municipality can develop optical fiber connections to municipal buildings or other projects of public interest."
In return, the council will allow the company access to its network of underground conduits and pipes to enable fiber optic cables to spread through the municipality.
In a statement of the obvious, and to calm the complaints from tourists, locals and businesses, the council concludes that "Fiber optic technology enhances the quality of telecommunication services resulting from the demand for increasing bandwidth to meet the needs of domestic and business consumers."
There has been little point in developing a local tourism industry, a market the eastern Algarve council has embraced, without the provision of high speed connections and serviceable WiFi.
By allowing access to the council's underground services network, the telecoms supplier will save installation costs and hopes to sign up many more customers desperate for modern connection speeds.
