Government approves allocation of EUR 500 million to CCAA for digitisation and connectivity projects under the Recovery Plan

The Council of Ministers has authorised the proposals for territorial distribution of 500 million euros for the period 2021-2023, aimed at several digitisation and connectivity projects that will be managed by the Autonomous Communities within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan.

This economic distribution will be discussed at the meeting of the Sectoral Conference that, on a virtual basis, will be held tomorrow, Wednesday.

With the agreements approved today, the Autonomous Communities will count until 2023 with 360 million euros to implement actions that are framed in the UNICO Program. This Program aims to achieve the universalization of ultra-fast broadband access (100 Mbps or higher) throughout the territory, as well as the acceleration of 5G deployment, even in remote rural areas.

This amount to be managed by the regional governments will be divided into four lines:

UNICO-Servicios Público. This program will finance broadband infrastructure with speeds of at least 300 Mbps, scalable to 1 Gbps in reference centers such as hospitals, health centers, education and training centers and other centers where public services are provided and strengthen their connectivity. The programme’s budget is 150 million euros.

The program UNICO-Industry and Companies has a budget of 100 million euros and its objective is to strengthen connectivity in polygons, logistics centers and areas of concentration of economic activity, located in white areas or gray areas NGA . The programme will include broadband deployment at 300 Mbps, scalable to 1 Gbps, and the interconnection of centres or facilities with each other, with the aim of facilitating high-performance network access in innovative sectoral digitisation projects.

UNICO-Bono Social has a budget of 30 million euros and consists of the creation of a social bonus that allows to hire or improve the fixed broadband connection, with a minimum speed of 30 Mbps, for people or families identified as vulnerable. There will be a limitation of a bonus per family unit and person with a maximum bonus amount of 240 €/year. Those operators who provide service, in all or in any of the autonomous communities and cities, may collaborate with the social bond program.

Finally, UNICO-Buildings will improve telecommunications facilities in buildings built before the year 2000. The programme’s budget is 80 million euros.

The CCAA and the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla will receive 140 million euros, also for the period 2021-2023, to carry out actions of training and acquisition of digital skills by the citizens, through actions such as training modules, workshops, seminars, etc. Actions that should also focus on training for women and girls.

These investments are part of component 19 of the Recovery Plan, relating to the National Digital Skills Plan, which seeks to strengthen the digital skills of workers and the general public, reducing the percentage of the Spanish population that lacks digital skills. Thus, one of the axes of action is the promotion of transversal digital competences of all citizens, placing emphasis on groups at risk of social exclusion and fighting against the digital gender gap.

The aim is to strengthen the programmes being implemented by the CCAA through initiatives such as the strengthening of networks of digital training support centres, digital inclusion actions with a focus on vulnerable groups, information and awareness programmes for senior citizens or innovation programmes to close the digital divide. ​​