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Evaluate SIRESP's circumstances and make a 'political call'

on Wednesday, the head of IL advocated for a review of SIRESP's conditions and a political decision, understanding that a possible contingency could involve adopting a different approach to secure emergency communication during crises.

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Evaluate SIRESP's circumstances and make a 'political call'

The Pressure on SIRESP: A System Breakdown That Needs Immediate Action

Leaders are voicing their concerns about Portugal's SIRESP (Integrated System of Emergency and Security Networks) as the system struggles to function effectively, especially during crisis situations. Rui Rocha, a prominent figure, expressed his dissatisfaction after a meeting with the National Police Syndicate (SINAPOL). He pointed out that the system's failures during Monday's power outage highlight the urgent need for change.

In a candid interview with journalists, Rui Rocha criticized the system's frequent breakdowns and voiced his belief that it has been a pressing issue for numerous years. He emphasized the potential for these failures to contribute to devastating situations and called for immediate action.

"There's a necessity for political decision-making, to assess the conditions of SIRESP, determine if it can provide the service, and bolster its capacity, or discover another solution," Rocha stated.

Rui Rocha stressed that it's unacceptable to face emergency situations without essential communication channels. He further added that the 'blackout' of Monday, during which there were no communications, revealed the suboptimal state we currently live in. In future crises, communication availability is crucial, he argued.

The leader of IL also expressed concerns about the working conditions of the security forces, which are reportedly insufficient and hindering the capacity to recruit new police officers.

During the meeting with SINAPOL, the syndicate also raised concerns about inadequate work conditions and discussed the creation of a border control unit within the PSP, which Rui Rocha considers indispensable to prevent the ongoing lack of control at Portugal's borders.

Looking deeper into the history of SIRESP, the system was established in 2006 as a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) to modernize Portugal’s emergency communications for first responders. Operated by the Altice Portugal consortium, it faced cost overruns, infrastructure gaps, and technical failures over the years, with persistent criticisms for lack of transparency. Despite serving over 50,000 users across 12 agencies, the system remains viewed as outdated compared to modern technologies.

To address these challenges, various immediate fixes and long-term reforms can be implemented. Short-term measures might include infrastructure investment, hybrid systems, and upgrading telecommunication technologies. Long-term reforms could involve renegotiating the PPP contract, creating an independent oversight body, and shifting to a public-managed system post-2031. Furthermore, leveraging EU funds, such as the Recovery and Resilience Plan (RRP), could finance next-gen emergency networks.

Lessons can be learned from neighboring countries like Spain and the UK, who have modernized their emergency networks to integrate TETRA with 4G/5G systems and transitioned to LTE, respectively. The future of SIRESP undoubtedly lies in modernization, accountability, and flexibility to meet the ever-increasing demands of climate-related emergencies that Portugal faces.

  1. Rui Rocha, in a meeting with the National Police Syndicate (SINAPOL), highlighted the need for a 'reformulation' of the SIRESP system following its failure during the power outage, emphasizing the importance of its efficiency and modernization.
  2. Amidst the system's persistent issues, there have been concerns about its 'security' aspects, particularly during moments of crisis, as critical communication channels can make a significant difference.
  3. The system's history reveals multiple challenges, including cost overruns, infrastructure gaps, and technical failures, along with constant criticisms for lack of transparency. To resolve these issues, immediate solutions such as infrastructure investment and upgrading telecommunication technologies and long-term reforms like renegotiating PPP contracts and creating an independent oversight body have been proposed.
  4. As Portugal faces increasing demands from climate-related emergencies, the future of SIRESP lies in modernization, accountability, and flexibility, taking inspiration from models in neighboring countries like Spain and the UK that have implemented modern emergency networks integrating TETRA with 4G/5G systems and transitioning to LTE, respectively.
IL head honcho calls for assessment of SIRESP conditions and political decision-making, suggesting possible need for 'alternative method' to secure crisis communications during emergencies.

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