Government discusses 5G corridors with Spain for smart cities

  • Lusa
  • 20 September 2022

The development of a favourable ecosystem for startups was another topic discussed by the representatives of both countries.

Portugal’s economy minister, António Costa Silva, and his Spanish counterpart, Nadia Calviño, on Tuesday discussed possible collaboration on a smart cities programme using the 5G corridors between the two countries.

The information was given by the two ministers at a press conference at the end of a meeting, in Madrid, where the development of the 5G corridors in the Iberian Peninsula was one of the topics addressed.

“In these corridors, from Évora to Mérida and from Aveiro to Salamanca, we are thinking of using both sides of the border, a Spanish and a Portuguese city, to develop a large programme of smart cities,” Costa Silva said.

The development of a favourable ecosystem for startups was another topic discussed by the representatives of both countries, who, as Nádia Calviño said, want to turn the Iberian Peninsula into a “digital paradise” for this type of company.

They also discussed the possibility of collaboration between the two countries in the semiconductor industry, which is essential, for example, for the car industry, in the development of an “electric mobility chain” in the Iberian Peninsula and the development of batteries and “green” hydrogen and interconnections with Europe.

Asked about applying a tax on extraordinary profits to companies in Portugal, as Spain is doing to energy and banking, Costa Silva said the government was awaiting the European Commission’s recommendations, which would then be analysed and, if necessary, adjusted to the Portuguese reality.