NOS presented the first 5G school in the country – João Gonçalves Zarco Secondary School, in Matosinhos. This school, internationally recognized and awarded for its path of innovation, is now equipped with the most advanced mobile communications network so that the entire school community can start taking advantage of 5G – the technology that promises a revolution in all critical areas of society. Find out more about the first 5g school in Portugal below.

Since 2019, Matosinhos has been a living innovation lab, to which NOS has actively contributed through the development of projects linked to smart cities. Today, at João Gonçalves Zarco Secondary School, NOS is once again at the forefront of tests that will reveal the real potential of 5G technology, showing, once again, its technological preparation to lead the mobile technology of the future.

Using a Virtual Reality solution over 5G, students from the 12th grade Science and Technology class made a virtual study visit to the Pavilhão do Conhecimento – Ciência Viva, in Lisbon, located more than 300 km from the school. In this experience, they were able to visit and interact, in an immersive and almost real way, with the contents of the exhibition in Pavilhão do Conhecimento, through a robot equipped with a 360º camera, remotely controlled by the students.

Aware of the importance of continuing the project launched today, NOS formalized its commitment to, together with Ericsson, its technological partner for the implementation of the 5G network in Matosinhos, to develop educational projects based on 5G. The objective is to allow Escola João Gonçalves Zarco to start, as of now, to take full advantage of this technology, providing students and teachers with new and disruptive methods of teaching and acquiring knowledge.

According to Manuel Ramalho Eanes, Executive Director of NOS, “5G opens perspectives for changes never seen before in current teaching models, enhancing stimulating learning experiences and reducing geographic and social barriers. The collaboration with Escola Secundária João Gonçalves Zarco and Ericsson will allow us to work, from now on, in the actual application of this technology in the school context, reinforcing NOS’ firm commitment to empowering present and future generations for the new paradigms of the digital society and the world of work”.

According to Sofia Vaz Pires, CEO Ericsson Portugal, “mobile networks will play a major role in connecting every learning establishment and learner. Ericsson is truly excited to join forces in this partnership with NOS to enable new ways of learning and teaching in João Gonçalves Zarco School.
With our leading solutions and capabilities, together we will materialize some of the endless possibilities technology has for a quality, lifelong learning, where traditional barriers to access are eliminated thanks to 5G.”

“By embracing this technological innovation project, Escola Secundária João Gonçalves ZarcoMatosinhos continues a path of “more than 60 years building futures” marked by the systematic search and adoption of technologically disruptive solutions that translate into the training of its students with the aim of fulling integrate into an increasingly demanding and complex society.” Emphasizes José Ramos, School Principal.

5G in Education 5g school portugal

5G opens numerous possibilities for the best teaching practices associated with this new technological paradigm, through collaborative methodologies and interactive, virtual and assisted formats, which allow for easier, more stimulating, and enriching learning.
• Democratization of access to digital tools – the massification of virtual classes will make it possible to reduce physical and economic barriers, with content taught and monitored remotely, which will now be accessible to everyone. Schools will be less and less constrained by space and time, and the fifth generation of mobile communications is instrumental in accelerating this trend.
• Connectivity in the school environment and community – 5G will allow access to educational content more and more immediately. Currently, it takes many minutes, and sometimes hours, to download HD videos. With 5G speeds it only takes a few seconds to download HD video or stream 8K video.
• Modernization of teaching methods – the speed of 5G combined with its almost zero latency will enhance the use of technologies such as virtual and augmented reality, enabling onsite or remote, accompanied learning experiences with high quality and level of interaction.
Immediate access to multimedia resources combined with new technologies will provide immersive experiences such as virtual study tours. 5g school portugal

• Dematerialization of resources and digital literacy – the evolution of technology will promote the digitization of didactic contents and teaching and assessment processes, stimulating a more innovative education and reinforcing the learning of essential digital skills.