The surge in fiber rollouts reaching rural areas, including towns with populations under 1,000, is fueling a shift toward remote work and giving rise to new businesses and online shopping activity in these communities.
A study conducted by ASTERO Observatory on digital habits in rural populations, developed by operator Asteo Red Neutra in collaboration with the research firm Random, shows that 61% of surveyed residents see digitization as a key strategy to counteract Spain’s depopulation. This finding underscores how modern connectivity can help keep small towns vibrant and economically viable. According to the same study, residents in these towns believe state‑of‑the‑art connectivity is essential for running their ventures. Approximately one in four workers in small rural towns already choose remote work as a primary option.
Pedro Abad, CEO of ASTERO Red Neutra, speaking on Internet Day, highlighted the critical role of accelerating rural digitization and ensuring robust connectivity as foundational tools for development and population stability. He noted that ASTEO Red Neutra’s mission is to narrow the social divide between digitized and non‑digitized regions and to speed up fiber adoption in smaller communities. Four out of ten people who prefer rural living still lack a personal FTTH connection. High data upload and download speeds, along with stable, low‑latency Internet service, are essential for individuals and businesses that rely on remote work to establish themselves in these small municipalities.
Need for connectivity and education in rural areas
Abad stressed that attracting talent and fostering business growth in these regions is tightly linked to digitization and the availability of modern telecommunications networks. The organization focuses its efforts on populations under 1,000 and under 10,000 because those areas experience the greatest latency in Internet access. National statistics from INE indicate that these municipalities house 9,589,447 residents, which accounts for about 20% of Spain’s total population (INE Spain 2021).
Presently, Spain enjoys an Internet coverage rate of 89.87% for speeds of 100 Mbps or more, according to the latest data from SETELECO. However, rural areas lag behind with a 66% coverage rate. The Digital Spain Agenda targets aim to achieve universal 100 Mbps access by 2025. On the ground, this means rural households and small businesses should enjoy reliable, fast connections that enable modern remote work and online commerce.
Abad noted that strong connectivity can boost remote work and support the growth of e‑commerce while enabling small regional industries to thrive without relocation due to insufficient connectivity. He added that robust connections help existing local businesses scale and attract new ones, sustaining livelihoods across nearby towns.
The ASTEO Observatory reports a generally positive outlook on digitization’s impact in rural areas, but a sizable share of respondents believe the current telecom infrastructure is not yet adequate. The majority also emphasize the need for new digital skills training to help residents maximize the benefits of modern connectivity. A related share views digitization as an inclusive process that should contribute to sustainable rural development. In their view, digitization can streamline processes and reduce environmental impact across sectors.
Overall, the message from the survey is clear: expanding digital infrastructure and fostering digital literacy are seen as pivotal steps toward revitalizing rural life, creating more opportunities for people to work, learn, and build businesses closer to home. These developments can pave the way for resilient rural economies in the United States and Canada as well, where reliable fiber access is increasingly recognized as a cornerstone of communities that want to grow while preserving local character. (attribution: ASTERO Observatory reports)