The Alicante-based Directorate General to Combat the Digital Divide, part of the Division of Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society, will allocate more than three million euros from Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan funds to help families in the Valencian Community. The initiative aims to reduce the burden of internet bills for over 12,600 households, delivering a monthly credit that totals 240 euros per year, distributed across twelve installments. The effort engages a dozen telecommunications providers, who will apply the monthly 20-euro credit directly to customers’ internet bills, ensuring the support reaches those who need it most across both urban and rural areas.
Ten companies signed on to participate in the new digital bonus program, including some of the nation’s largest operators and several regional players. The participating firms will apply the 20-euro monthly discount to eligible households, helping keep essential digital access affordable. Among the providers included are Vodafone, Telefónica, Xfera Móviles (MásMóvil), Fibra Valencia Network, Ibérica de Redes, Quantis Global (Eurona), Energy Consulting Albir, Crevinet Fibra, Cable Aire World, and Airsip Telekomünikasyon, all contributing to a broader effort to close the digital gap in the region.
Josefina Bueno’s commitment: reducing the digital divide in Alicante requires sustained investment
Josefina Bueno, the minister overseeing Innovation, Universities, Science and Digital Society, stated that the more than three million euros set aside will support more than 12,600 bond issuances. The 240-euro annual support will be paid through twelve monthly installments over 2022 and 2023, ensuring a steady, predictable flow of assistance for families. She emphasized that digitization must reach every corner of society; when any group is left behind, progress stalls. Her remarks underscored a clear policy objective: guarantee universal internet access and reduce disparities in digital connectivity, a step deemed essential to advancing education, culture, health services, and commerce across the Valencian Community.
The regional government has established a precise target: secure digital connectivity for all residents of the Valencia Community, with particular attention to removing barriers in both busy urban centers and remote rural areas. This strategy envisions widespread access to online education, cultural programming, socio-health services, and commerce, ensuring that every resident can participate fully in a connected economy and society.