- The Royal Decree project proposes to increase the speed of the fixed internet connection—10 Mbps at present—to 100 Mbps, making Spain the first country in Europe to offer this speed within the Universal Service
- The excellent level of coverage of fiber optic networks in Spain, 5G mobile networks and the evolution of the performance of satellite networks, make it possible to reach that speed
- The Government’s proposal improves the social protection umbrella in the field of telecommunications since it would not only oblige all operators to offer functionalities to people with special needs, it also extends the group of potential beneficiaries, by including people who are entitled to the Minimum Vital Income.
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service has today published a public hearing on the draft Royal Decree approving the Universal Telecommunications Service Regulation, a service that can be requested by anyone, regardless of geographical location, and which includes fixed telephone service and fixed internet access. These services must also be provided with a certain quality and at affordable prices.
Currently the fixed internet connection speed included in the Universal Service is 10 Mbps. The new regulation proposes to increase the speed to a minimum of 100 Mbps, making Spain the first country in Europe to offer this speed within the universal service.
The excellent level of coverage of fiber optic networks, mobile 5G technology networks and the evolution of technological performance through satellite networks (which offer coverage throughout the territory), make it possible to reach that speed.
The extensive telecommunications network also facilitates that there is not a single operator designated to provide the universal service, which is currently Telefónica, but that all operators have the obligation to offer it within its scope of coverage and with the characteristics established in the Royal Decree. This strengthens the user’s ability to freely choose the operator who is providing these services in an area.
New functionalities for groups with functional diversity and discounted rates for more people
In terms of accessibility, all operators must have a sufficient supply of terminals for people with disabilities. Likewise, operators and Platforms 112 must have, by June 2027, the Real Time Text (RTT) functionality, a function that facilitates fluid communication for people with hearing or speech difficulties.
In addition, all operators must offer a discount of at least 25% of the tariffs to users with low incomes. The Royal Decree project proposes to guarantee these reduced rates for a larger group, by including as potential beneficiaries the people who receive the Minimum Vital Income, which currently amounts to about 800,000 households.
This new regime is scheduled to apply from 1 January 2027.