Regional Directorate for Communications and Digital Transition






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Welcome Note

The Regional Directorate for Communications and Digital Transition (DRCTD) has as its mission the coordination and development of actions leading to the implementation of regional policies in the area of communications, information systems and technologies, cybersecurity and digital transition.

Its main guiding principles aim to ensure the implementation and operation of the computing and data storage infrastructures of the Regional Government, as well as to develop a regional strategy to achieve the Digital Transition in the various departments and services of the Regional Government and in the various sectors of the Region's economy.

The DRCTD is also responsible for the development of a regional cybersecurity strategy as well as for the operation of an efficient and effective protection and defence system against threats originating in cyberspace.

We are committed to monitoring and ensuring the implementation of the project for the replacement of the Submarine Fibre Optic Cable Ring carrying communications between Mainland Portugal, the Azores and Madeira (CAM Ring). This an essential infrastructure for the socio-economic development of the Azores as it connects us to the rest of the world. Therefore, it is our commitment to ensure that whoever has this responsibility will fulfil it within the timeframe already defined and within a timeline that will not be detrimental to the Autonomous Region of the Azores.

"Welcome to the Regional Directorate for Communications and Digital Transition"

The introduction of new technologies, such as 5G, as well as the mitigation of asymmetries in the mobile communications network coverage and access to fibre optic networks, require our full commitment and dedication to defending the interests of our Region. We are determined to ensure that all Azoreans have access to communications products and services under the same technological and commercial conditions as those in Mainland Portugal.

In the context of Digital Transition, the integration of solutions, their suitability and the optimisation of the efficiency of services and their relations with citizens and companies, along with their simplification, are our main goals. We also aim to support and promote digital transition in the different areas of the Azorean economy.

Also, within the scope of our competences, we intend to ensure the improvement of the quality and efficiency of the postal services provided in our Region.

Committed to meeting the concerns and aspirations of all Azoreans in matters related to communications and cybersecurity, we are available to receive your suggestions, comments and doubts at our email [email protected].

Regional Government wants to follow fibre optic submarine cable process ever more closely
Nota de Imprensa
March 13, 2024
Regional Government wants to follow fibre optic submarine cable process ever more closely
The contract to supply the new fibre optic submarine cable system that will connect Mainland Portugal to the Azores and Madeira in a ring, which will be designated Atlantic CAM, was signed today. The contract, amounting to 154 million Euros, was signed by Infraestruturas de Portugal (IP) and the company selected to implement this infrastructure, Alcatel Submarine Cables (ASN). This new system will replace the current CAM Ring, which is nearing the end of its useful life. The Regional Director for Communications and Digital Transition (DRCTD), Pedro Batista, present at the session, emphasised that this is "a happy day for the Azores and Portugal, but, unfortunately, it comes four years too late." "We now hope to be able to follow this project more closely and that it is not delayed any further," he noted. In this process, Pedro Batista also emphasised that "there are still important questions" to which the Region has yet to receive an answer. These include, for example, knowing who and how the current solution will be operational until the new system is completed and in operation, and when the National Government will replace the inter-island submarine cable connection. The latter is nearing the end of its useful life and is responsible for the digital connectivity of the islands to each other and of seven of them to the rest of the world. The Regional Director also wants to know "how the planned 50% price reduction will be transferred to people and companies in the Azores, and how the Region will be granted access to the new scientific data from the SMART component." The cables now used in the new Atlantic CAM are new generation and also feature new technology (Science Monitoring And Reliable Telecommunications), with prices for the operation of this infrastructure being more than 50% lower than those currently in force. The Atlantic CAM is intended to boost Portugal as an Atlantic submarine cable mooring platform. It will be the central interconnection between the Atlantic and Europe, the main gateway for submarine cables originating on the American continent and an important lever for the European Datacentre and Communications Network.
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Regional Government launches Transparency Portal
Nota de Imprensa
December 29, 2023
Regional Government launches Transparency Portal
Implementing the provisions of the Regional Legislative Decree no. 24/2023/A of July 7, 2023, the Regional Government launched today the Transparency Portal.  The new digital service is available at https://transparencia.servicos.azores.gov.pt/.  The Transparency Portal of the Regional Government of the Azores is a free access website where citizens can find data on various dimensions of governance, including, among others, the organisational structure of the cabinets of the members of the Regional Government and the appointments made to senior positions in the Public Institutes of the Autonomous Region of the Azores. Other datasets of public interest will be added in due course.
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