As part of the 50th anniversary celebrations of the University of Aveiro (UA), 50 testimonies of innovation with social impact were collected, now gathered in an exhibition that serves as a metaphor demonstrating the role of the University of Aveiro in the world. The exhibition has been on display since December 15th in the central square of the Santiago campus, in a printed version (on canvas), and until March 31st, it can be visited in its physical form at the Salão Nobre of the Teatro Aveirense. Among the various objects on display are three innovations developed by Altice Labs:

  • 1st Mobile Broadband Terminal: Developed under the SAMBA project, which aimed to create a prototype of a broadband data terminal that could be carried by a single person. The system initially operated in the 28GHz band to reduce technology costs. The mobile terminal was minimized as much as possible, still weighing about 60 kg, with a power consumption of 60 W. It was publicly demonstrated for an hour at the Pavilion of Utopia in Lisbon, through a high-definition wireless video transmission at a rate of 34Mbit/s, without failures, while the mobile terminal moved around the Expo98 space. In another scenario, transmission rates exceeding 30Mbit/s were achieved from a moving ambulance. The prototype was developed as part of a European collaborative project, led by CET (now Altice Labs) with Portuguese partners IT of Aveiro, IST (Lisbon), and TMN.
  • The CET-PAD (Packet Assembler & Disassembler), developed by CET (Telecommunications Studies Center, now Altice Labs) in collaboration with UA, is a practical and economical device that served to interconnect asynchronous terminals to X.25 packet-switched networks, such as the Portuguese network “Telepac”, simplifying the connection of remote terminals to central computers, such as ATM machines, tolls, and POS terminals in stores for secure debit card payments. The development, production, and commercialization of this equipment were supported by the creation of the “spinoff” company Vegatron (Electronics and Systems, AS) in Aveiro.
  • The RFO (Radio over Optical Fiber) system is an innovative solution that allows the transport of television signals in RF (radio frequency) over a digital communication network in optical fiber, enabling the transmission of RF TV over long distances without signal degradation and at a low cost. This equipment allowed the extension of the RF TV network of MEO throughout the country. The equipment was developed by PT Inovação (now Altice Labs) in partnership with IT of Aveiro.

These and 47 other objects, including the Sapo portal, embody the direct or indirect contributions of the University of Aveiro (UA) to societal development for over 50 years. The exhibition also includes a timeline of significant events in UA’s history, symbolizing the past, and the distribution of UA graduates across various continents. The institution’s pulse in the world is also captured through testimonies from former students who are part of other communities, serving as ambassadors of the language, culture, and mobilizing educational experience they had at this University.