Public support for the extension of broadband is intended to increase the rate of extension and the scope of coverage of state-of-the-art broadband networks, correcting market failures or unsatisfactory results from the point of view of territorial cohesion, minimising the distortion of competition and respecting the principle of technological neutrality.
The European Commission (EC) is responsible for monitoring the compatibility of public aid with the internal market. With regard to its application to broadband, the EC approved the Guidelines on State aid for broadband networks (2023/C 36/01), summarising the principles of the Commission's policy on the application of the State aid rules of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to measures supporting the deployment of broadband networks in general and explaining the application of these principles when assessing such support measures.
Currently, Spain has one of the highest percentages of ultra-fast broadband coverage of the countries around us, as can be consulted in the latest broadband coverage reports.
With the objective of reaching the goals of the Digital Spain Agenda 2026, which sets as a goal for 2025 “100% of the population with coverage of 100 Mbps” and as objectives for 2026 “Advance in the universalization of ultra-fast broadband” and “Contribute to the transformation of productive sectors”, the Government of Spain has been carrying out various actions. At present these are materialized through the Digital Infrastructure Universalization Programme for Cohesion – Broadband (UN-Broadband) who takes over in 2022 from Next Generation Broadband Extension Program (2013-2021).
The Digital Infrastructure Universalization Program for Cohesion – Broadband (UN-Broadband), funded by the Recovery and Resilience Mechanism – NextGenerationEU, is the framework for action with which to universalize access to ultra-fast broadband throughout the territory, thus allowing to improve the functionality and quality of digital services necessary for the complete digital transformation and thereby increase the well-being and quality of life of citizens, contributing to the success of a sustainable and inclusive growth model based on the Gigabit society.