Utinga State Park and Combu APA receive improvements in telephony and internet as a legacy of COP30
Expanded connectivity in conservation units in Belém improves safety, tourism, and visitor experience during and after the climate conference
Utinga Camillo Vianna State Park, in Belém, is receiving antennas that will assist in expanding cellular phone and internet signals. The equipment will also provide a better experience for the visitors who will come in greater numbers to the park during the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP30) in November, in the capital of Pará.
The initiative is the result of collaboration between the government of Pará, through the State Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity (Ideflor-Bio), the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel), the Institutional Security Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic (GSI/PR), the Ministry of Communications, the city hall of Belém, the State Information and Communication Technology Company (Prodepa), the Conexis association, and the telecommunications operators Claro, TIM, and Vivo.
Safety, tourism, and digital inclusion - In Utinga, the measure will have a direct impact on safety, leisure experience, real-time communication, and the work of management teams in the area. The president of Ideflor-Bio, Nilson Pinto, emphasizes the significance of this achievement. “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 park,” he said.
The park received about 500,000 people last year, and by July of this year, it had already recorded nearly 400,000 visitors. Bank employee Juliana Santos frequently visits the conservation unit on weekends and spoke about her expectations. “Those who come to the park know that for most of the routes we lose signal. With this new development, we will have more safety and convenience,” she highlighted.
Expansion - In addition to Utinga, the Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Combu Island, located in the insular region of Belém and also managed by Ideflor-Bio, will receive antennas. The territory, which houses traditional communities and tourism activities related to gastronomy and biodiversity, will benefit from phone and internet signals, improving communication and reinforcing the reach of the permanent legacies left by COP30.
According to the manager of the Administrative Region of Belém at Ideflor-Bio, Júlio Meyer, the measure has strategic weight. “Utinga and Combu are postcards of Belém. Receiving connectivity is not just a technological advancement: it means more safety and appreciation of local communities,” he assures.
Coverage expansion - According to Anatel, internet and phone coverage will be expanded 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 antennas, consolidating a lasting legacy for urban infrastructure.
Planning and future - The work of coordinating the network expansion began in September 2023 and involved various fronts to ensure the quality of telecommunications infrastructure. It was up to Anatel to standardize technical aspects, reinforce 4G and 5G networks, and define cybersecurity protocols. During COP30, the agency will monitor the network's performance in real-time to ensure stability and coverage in all areas with high foot traffic.
Beyond the conference, Júlio Meyer emphasizes that connectivity in urban conservation units represents a milestone in modernization and digital inclusion. “Belém takes an important step by uniting environmental preservation, leisure, tourism, and technology in strengthening its infrastructure,” he highlights.
