Congress voted last Thursday to amend the new General Telecommunications Law which, among other measures, establishes the obligation for operators to offer internet of broadband with a minimum speed of 100 Mb in 100% of the population. The modification, specifically, includes a new maximum period for this rule to be carried out: June 2023.
The law, previously, established a much more distant term; in 2025. Operators now they will have one year to offer affordable internet offers at 100 Mb anywhere in Spain. Although it may seem like a somewhat hasty measure and could not leave room for companies to adapt their infrastructures -especially, taking into account areas with little population-, the amendment, as assured bandaancha.eu, it does not specify which technologies operators should use. Therefore, telecommunications companies are likely to bet on services such as 4G or 5G modems or even satellite connection.
“The Government will develop the appropriate measures that aim to achieve, within one year from the entry into force of this law, the universalization of broadband internet access at a minimum speed of 100 Mbit per second in the downward direction and additionally, that said access occurs at affordable prices for citizens, regardless of their geographical location […]”.
details the Official bulletin in relation to the General Telecommunications Law Project.
At the moment, and according to the Congress, broadband coverage in Spain reaches 95.2% of the population with a speed of up to 30 Mb, while 100 Mb coverage is present in 87.6% of the territory.
100 Mb broadband and customer service in co-official languages
Congress has also included a new amendment detailing the obligation for operators’ customer services offer the user the possibility of conversing in co-official languages and their respective variants: Catalan (and Valencian), Galician and Basque.
“All information received by end users and consumers of electronic communications networks and services available to the public, as well as all customer service services, must be offered in the official language of the State and in the official language of the corresponding Autonomous Community. , when so required by the end user or consumer”
It is detailed in article 65 of the amendment.