State funding for emergency communications network consistently falls short of compensation target

In an interview, Lieutenant-General Paulo Viegas Nunes explained that the State’s yearly payment to SIRESP is always below the compensation amount, which has driven a sharp decline in per-user costs from several thousand euros to around a few hundred euros. The compensation money finances the six firms that won the 2022 public tender for operating and maintaining Portugal’s integrated emergency communications system, as well as infrastructure upgrades and routine expenses.

For the first time in two years, SIRESP will publish its budget execution and expense reports on its website. Viegas Nunes refuted claims of a lack of supervision, pointing to a monthly operational report that provides full scrutiny. He also mentioned that the Ministry of Internal Administration has not transferred any funds since July, putting the company in a difficult budgeting situation, and criticized the unilateral closure of the network’s Operations and Management Centre without consultation.