With the pandemic and compulsory social distancing, the use of technologies in education has gained prominence and is now seen as an important tool in the learning process. A proof of this is that, according to a survey conducted by the Lemann Foundation, 92% of teachers surveyed mentioned the positive effects of the integration of technology in students' daily lives.

In the face of this new scenario and always aiming to benefit the research and education institutions in the entire country, Santa Maria, Rio Grande do Sul, was one of the cities chosen for the start of the Community Networks for Education and Research Program (RedeComep) in 2021.

The initiative, coordinated by the National Education and Research Network (RNP), provides for the deployment of high-speed networks in the region, connecting the Campus of the Federal University of Santa Maria, the Center for Information Technology and Communication of the state of Rio Grande do Sul (Procergs), the Tecnoparque, Museum Gama D'eça, and the Federal Institute Farroupilha. 

In all, the MetroSM Network will have five points throughout the city, a constructed metropolitan ring of approximately 50 km of fiber optics and 1 Gb/s. 

"The opening of Redecomep Santa Maria represents a major step forward for all institutions of higher education in the city. A long-time joint effort led by UFSM and its team of servers, which brings to Santa Maria and the region greater Internet speed, at a lower cost and with more quality for all users. We are working together with the leaders of cities and regions so that, in the near future, all schools in the area are also connected and can take advantage of this service. Our role as a university is to provide support and meet the needs of the city and the region in the best possible way. This project, along with other initiatives, demonstrates beyond doubt the inclusion and commitment of UFSM in solving the general demands of the community," says Paul Burmann, Dean of UFSM.

The great advantage of Redecomep is the possibility of using a high-performance cyberinfrastructure for experimentation and research, in addition to guaranteeing the operation of advanced services of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT). The already deployed networks have over 540 partner institutions. The total coverage of the set of networks already exceeded a total of 3.5 thousand km. Currently, 43 optical networks are deployed - most in full operation, including 27 networks in capitals and in the Federal District and 16 in municipalities in the interior. 

The official launch, which will take place on the 1st of July, at 15 pm, will be broadcast online (https://conferenciaweb.rnp.br/webconf/rrm) and will be attended by the Dean of the Federal University of Santa Maria, prof. Paulo Afonso Burmann; Dean of the Federal Institute Farroupilha, prof. Nídia Heringer; Secretary of Innovation, Science and Technology of Rio Grande do Sul, Luís Lamb; Mayor of Santa Maria, Jorge Pozzobon; Director of the National Institute for Space Research, Clezio de Nardin; Director of the National Institute for Space Research in Santa Maria, Nelson Schuch; Dean of the Franciscan University, prof. Iraní Rupolo, and Director of ULBRA-SM, prof. Mauro Luiz Cervi.

"Improving the connectivity between educational institutions in the entire country, particularly in countryside cities and metropolitan regions, is the main objective of RedeComep. That is why we are very excited about the MetroSM Network, and I am sure that with these new access points, we will benefit not only the region of Santa Maria but also collaborative scientific projects and research carried out in institutions in the entire country," concludes the associate director of Institutional Relations of RNP, Gorgonio Araújo