Spain has consolidated its position as a leader in fiber optic network coverage (FTTH) both in Europe and globally. With a coverage exceeding 90%, in both urban and rural areas, the country has surpassed European averages in this aspect. This leadership has been achieved through a combination of private investments and government subsidy programs, which have allowed for significantly higher coverage levels in rural areas compared to other European Union countries.
The evolution of the wholesale fiber market
The wholesale FTTH market in Spain has evolved into a sophisticated and deep ecosystem, with a rich network of players and agreements between companies. Onivia, as the first neutral wholesale FTTH operator, has played a crucial role in this transformation. By offering wholesale access to fiber networks, Onivia promotes competition and facilitates the entry of local and regional operators, contributing to market diversification.
The digital divide: differences between urban and rural areas
Despite advancements in coverage, significant inequalities persist between urban and rural areas in terms of service quality and connection speed. Data analysis from MedUX, included in the report, shows that performance in urban areas is better in terms of download speed and average latency. In rural areas, the use of outdated WiFi technologies (such as WiFi 4) is much more common, contributing to performance discrepancies.
New approaches to measuring service quality in rural areas
A key advancement highlighted in the report is the approval of a new methodology by the CNMC to measure service quality in rural areas, which will be implemented starting in May 2024. This methodology focuses on evaluating performance differences between urban and rural areas, with the goal of closing the digital gap in terms of connectivity quality.
Conclusion
The report concludes that although Spain has achieved notable leadership in FTTH deployment, there are still areas for improvement, especially in terms of closing the digital gap in rural areas. Onivia, along with other key players in the telecommunications industry, continues to work on initiatives that maximize the benefits of this leadership in fiber optic infrastructure, ensuring that all citizens, regardless of their location, have access to quality connectivity.
This report emphasizes the importance of public-private partnerships to continue closing the digital gap, while underscoring the need to invest in new technologies that enhance performance and coverage throughout the country.
via: Report Onivia