Last year was particularly significant in terms of connectivity. On the one hand, because the expansive trend that began during the pandemic to integrate technology into our everyday lives fully established itself, both in the professional and personal realms. And, on the other hand, because – despite the economic crisis and the tense international context – institutions are making a great deal of effort to provide funding to the various regional administrations to improve their fibre optic infrastructure – particularly in rural areas – and support businesses with their transitions towards digitalisation.

Discounted rates, cheaper fibre optic and digital kits for companies

One of the most significant measures, due to its impact and economic scale, was the provision of funds to Spain’s Autonomous Communities as part of the Digital Infrastructure Universalisation Programme (UNICO). The first round of funding – which covers 2022 and 2023 – came into effect in March and reached a total amount of €155 million.

This overall figure was made up of €75 million allocated to industry and businesses to boost connectivity on industrial estates, at logistics centres and in areas of concentrated economic activity, as well as in remote areas with no coverage at all and NGA grey areas. It also included €60 million benchmarked to convert shared connectivity infrastructure in 13,600 buildings that were built before 2000 into high-capacity networks.

One particular part of the UNICO programme that has been very well received are the discounted rates, drawn from an overall fund of €30 million, to make 125,000 fibre optic broadband packages more accessible and available to individuals, families and companies by 31 December 2023.

Added to these measures are those included as part of the digital kits for companies, which offer between €2,000 and €12,000 to introduce new technological solutions, such as cybersecurity, digital presence on websites and social media, ecommerce and digital invoicing, as well as Big Data analytics, to name just a few examples.

From this year forward, passengers will be able to stay constantly connected on planes

Given society’s ongoing connectivity demands, there are places where permanent high-speed internet access is essential, even though it may not have been a priority until now. Aircraft cabins during flights are one such space. Over the past year, the first trials for continuous internet access have been carried out, offering wireless broadband access on commercial flights. Connecting to the internet to work, communicate with others or just enjoy digital entertainment throughout the course of a flight will be a reality in 2023.

Rural areas remain on target to implement digital infrastructure

Providing internet access to towns in Spain’s sparsely populated interior and rural areas where coverage is still poor – or where it doesn’t exist at all – was another strategic priority in 2022. In many of Spain’s regions, such as Asturias, Andalusia or Aragon, programmes have been developed alongside UNICO funding and money from the European NexGenEU initiative to implement 5G connectivity infrastructure and for connections via satellite, when laying fibre optic cable just isn’t feasible.

At the same time, new technology literacy programmes have been outlined, both at lower levels of education in schools and colleges, as well as in training programmes aimed at other age groups, all the way up to the oldest members of society. The aim behind this type of action is to significantly reduce the technological gap throughout 2023 and achieve the development goals of the country’s 2026 Digital Spain Plan.