The increase in fiber deployments in rural areas, in towns with a population of less than 1,000, is driving the growth of remote working and the emergence of new companies or e-commerce activities in these areas.
According to data collected by ASTERO Observatory on digital habits in rural populationDeveloped by operator Asteo Red Neutra in collaboration with the opinion and socioeconomic research company Random, 61% of surveyed citizens stated: the digitization Empty is a key strategy to stop Spain’s depopulation.
According to the same study, residents of these towns consider it necessary to have a state-of-the-art connectivity to run their business, and 1 in 4 workers living in small rural towns and it has a link choose to work remotely now.
CEO Pedro Abad ASTERO Neutral Network, On the occasion of Internet Day, he stressed the importance of advancing the digitization of rural areas and ensuring their connectivity as a fundamental tool for their development and stabilizing the population.
“ASTEO Red Neutra’s aim is to work to reduce the social divide created in non-digitized regions and accelerate the adoption of fiber optics in these small towns. Four out of ten people who choose to live in rural areas are not digitized. They still do not have their own FTTH connection. High data upload and download speed, connection “Having an Internet service with stability and low latency is crucial for people and companies that can work remotely to establish themselves in these small municipalities.”
Need for connectivity and education in rural areas
“The way to attract talent and therefore business development to these areas is very high. linked to digitization and connectivity possibilities Abad reassured “the latest generation of telecommunications networks”.
ASTEO Red Neutra focuses its work on populations of less than 1,000 and less than 10,000, as these are where Internet service access reaches the longest latency. According to INE data, these municipalities have 9,589,447 inhabitants, which is 20% of the total population (INE Spain 2021).
Currently, Internet coverage in Spain is 89.87% (≥ 100 MBPS), according to the latest data provided by the Minister of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure (SETELECO), but this rate drops to 66% in rural areas. By 2025, 100% of the population should have access to 100Mbps coverage, in line with the targets set by the Digital Spain Agenda.
“On the one hand, good connection, facilitate remote working and the emergence of e-commerce activitiesPedro Abad also helps the growth and development of small industries located in areas close to these municipalities, which are often the livelihoods of the surrounding towns, and does not have to relocate due to lack of adequate connectivity, adds Pedro Abad.
The ASTEO Observatory points out that although the majority of respondents are optimistic about the impact of digitization in the rural world, 78% of the technological infrastructure in rural areas fully or completely agrees. still not enough. The same participants also think that it is necessary to provide new digital skills to those living in these regions.
Likewise, for 77% of those consulted, digitization should be an inclusive process that contributes to the sustainable development of the rural world. Six out of 10 people Digitization allows to create more efficient processes and respectful to the environment, in companies in all sectors.