LISBON, Portugal — SIRESP, S.A. reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Portugal's mission-critical communications infrastructure during the CNN Portugal Summit "Health Resilience in the Face of Complex Emergencies", where Chairman of the Board Major General Paulo Viegas Nunes delivered a keynote address outlining the evolution of the country's national emergency communications network and its future roadmap.

Speaking at the Egas Moniz School of Health & Science Auditorium, Major General Viegas Nunes presented the keynote, "The Technologies and Resilience of the Emergency System. SIRESP Network: An Experience, A Vision," highlighting SIRESP's transformation from a contract management organization into Portugal's national mission-critical communications network operator.

The presentation showcased the significant progress made in expanding and modernizing the SIRESP network, which now provides 99.5% nationwide coverage, including Portugal's Autonomous Regions. The infrastructure comprises 548 base stations, supports 234 public safety and emergency service organizations, and is capable of serving up to 53,000 users, reinforcing its role as a cornerstone of the country's critical communications ecosystem.

A key focus of the presentation was SIRESP's 2026–2027 Investment Programme, valued at €37.2 million, which is designed to further strengthen the resilience of Portugal's emergency communications infrastructure. The investment will enhance nationwide network coverage, increase energy autonomy at critical sites, expand mobile recovery capabilities, and reinforce the overall resilience of the mission-critical network against future emergencies and disruptions.

Major General Viegas Nunes also highlighted the operational success of the SIRESP network during World Youth Day 2023, the largest event ever hosted in Portugal. The nationwide communications network successfully handled more than 7.7 million voice calls while supporting 27,778 active terminals, maintaining an exceptional 99.89% network availability throughout the event. The performance has been widely recognized as an international benchmark for mission-critical communications supporting large-scale public events.

Looking ahead, SIRESP outlined its long-term vision centered on the evolution toward Mission Critical Services (MCX) over LTE and 5G technologies. The strategy also prioritizes enhanced cyber resilience and the development of a "network of networks" architecture designed to improve interoperability, strengthen national communications sovereignty, and ensure the continuity of critical government and emergency operations during crises.

Throughout the keynote, Major General Viegas Nunes emphasized that resilient emergency communications require continuous investment, proactive planning, and close collaboration between government agencies and emergency response organizations.

"Resilience is built through anticipation, sustained investment and inter-agency cooperation. This remains SIRESP's commitment to Portugal as we continue strengthening the country's mission-critical communications capabilities for the future."

SIRESP also expressed its appreciation to CNN Portugal and the Egas Moniz School of Health & Science for organizing the summit and creating a platform for strategic dialogue on resilience, emergency preparedness, and the future of critical communications in Portugal.