APA of Combu Island will have expanded internet and phone coverage starting this Friday (3)
In the Utinga State Park, the equipment is expected to be operational by the end of October
Starting this Friday (3), the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Combu Island, in the insular region of Belém, will have stable phone and internet signal. The conservation unit, which houses traditional communities and is a tourist reference for gastronomy, bioeconomy, and biodiversity, has received antennas that will improve connectivity for residents and visitors.
The network expansion also reaches the Utinga Camillo Vianna State Park, in the Curió-Utinga neighborhood, which is expected to have the new equipment operational by the end of October. This measure will ensure more modernity and security in one of the most visited areas of Pará, consolidating a strategic delivery for the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30), which will take place in November in Belém.
In a meeting this Thursday (2), representatives from the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel) and the operators Claro, TIM, and Vivo aligned with the president of the Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity of Pará (Ideflor-Bio), Nilson Pinto, the final details of the installation schedule. The regional manager of Anatel in the states of Pará, Maranhão, and Amapá, Carnot Luiz Guimarães, presented how the technical monitoring and coverage oversight will be conducted.
The initiative is the result of collaboration between the government of Pará, Anatel, the Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of the Republic (GSI/PR), the Ministry of Communications, the city hall of Belém, the State of Pará Information and Communication Technology Company (Prodepa), the Conexis association, and mobile phone companies.
According to the president of Ideflor-Bio, connectivity represents a milestone for the management of the unit. “The Utinga State Park is one of the most visited spaces in Pará and, with COP30, it will have even more international visibility. The arrival of quality connectivity is a transformative legacy for those who visit and work in the conservation unit,” said Nilson Pinto.
The expanded coverage will have a direct impact on visitors and teams working on-site, allowing for more security, real-time communication, and a better leisure experience. In 2023 alone, the park received about 500,000 people, and by July of this year, it had already totaled nearly 400,000 visitors. “Those who come to the park know that for most of the routes we are without signal. With this new feature, we will have more security and convenience,” celebrated frequent visitor Juliana Santos.
For the manager of the Belém Administrative Region of Ideflor-Bio, Júlio Meyer, the advancement is strategic. “The Utinga State Park and the APA of Combu Island are postcards of Belém. Receiving connectivity is not just a technological advancement: it is more security and appreciation of local communities,” he said.
According to Anatel, the initiative is part of an expansion package that includes the installation of antennas in more than 20 points in the Metropolitan Region of Belém, including the City Park, Porto Futuro, Mangueirão Stadium, and the Ver-o-Peso Market. Of the 15 areas considered a priority, 14 will have permanent equipment, ensuring long-term infrastructure beyond COP30.
The planning began in September 2023, bringing together different fronts of action. Anatel was responsible for standardizing technical aspects, reinforcing 4G and 5G networks, and defining cybersecurity protocols. During COP30, the agency will monitor the network in real-time to ensure stability in high-traffic areas.
