The Regional Secretary for Health delivered today in Ponta Delgada four of the nine satellite telephones to be used by fire corporations in the archipelago with the aim of reinforcing the redundancy of the Satellite Network operated by the Azores Civil Protection services.
 
"Although the nine islands are already covered by this system, this reinforcement provides the possibility of equipping the 17 fire corporations of the archipelagos with these devices. It also ensures the redundancy of communications in the event of a major catastrophe when other types of communications are unavailable," said Rui Luís. He spoke at the delivery of equipment to the fire corporations of Ponta Delgada, Ribeira Grande, Nordeste and Povoação.
 
Rui Luís stated that these nice devices represent an investment of nearly 20 thousand Euros, which includes the acquisition of station bases and external antennas.
 
Within two weeks, the remaining equipment will be delivered to the fire corporations of Angra do Heroísmo and Praia da Vitória (Terceira), Calheta (São Jorge), and São Roque do Pico and Lajes do Pico.
 
Overall, the RITERAA communications network will be equipped with 21 satellite telephones. As for the 12 existing devices, three are located in the headquarters of the Azores Regional Civil Protection and Fire Service: a fixed-line telephone at the Dispatch and Emergency Management Room and two portable telephones that are part of the equipment used in emergency situations.
 
"This distribution ensures the existence of equipment in all fire corporations, thus optimising an already reliable communications network," said Rui Luís.