Telecommunications

Telecommunications is one of the most dynamic sectors of the economy and one of the sectors that can contribute most, due to its transversal nature, to growth, productivity and job creation, also being a lever for digital and ecological transformation and as an engine of sustainable development and social welfare.

Telecommunications contribute to the ecological transition and a new economic and social model based on energy efficiency, sustainable mobility and the circular economy, given that being a sector that generates a relatively low level of emissions, its role can be fundamental in the fight against climate change by facilitating a more efficient use of energy resources in other sectors.

According to data from the National Observatory of the Telecommunications Sector and the Information Society, the turnover of the telecommunications sector in Spain, as of July 2022, stood at around 28,337 million euros in 2020, with the Information and Knowledge Technologies sector accounting for 3.23 percent of the total. GDP National and giving employment to 446,881 people. In addition, according to market evolution data from the National Commission of Markets and Competition, there is a high degree of deployment by different operators in the Spanish market.

The processing and approval of a new General Telecommunications Law, transposition of Directive 2018/1972 of the European Code of Electronic Communications, is among the milestones and reforms of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, in its component 15, Digital connectivity, promotion of cybersecurity and deployment of 5G, and constitutes one of the main measures of the Spain Digital Plan 2026. After its approval in the Congress, it was published in the BOE, as Law 11/2022, of June 28, General of Telecommunications.

• Promote effective and sustainable competition in the telecommunications markets to maximize interests and benefits for companies and consumers, mainly in terms of lower prices, quality of services, variety of choice and innovation.
• Develop the economy and digital employment, promote the development of the telecommunications sector and all the new digital services that the new networks of high and very high capacity allow, promoting social and territorial cohesion.
• Promote the deployment of networks and the provision of services of electronic communications, promoting connectivity, access to very high capacity networks, and interoperability, under conditions of equality and non-discrimination.
• Promote innovation in the deployment of networks and the provision of communication services, in order to guarantee universal service and reduce inequality in Internet access and Information and Communication Technologies (ICT).
• Promote the development of engineering, as well as the telecommunications products and equipment industry.
• To contribute to the development of the internal market of electronic communications services in the European Union.
• Promote efficient investment in infrastructure, promote technological neutrality in regulation and ensure compliance with public service obligations.
• Defend the interests of users, ensuring their right to access electronic communications services under appropriate conditions of choice, price and good quality and safeguarding and protecting in telecommunications markets the satisfaction of the needs of specific social groups, according to the principles of equal opportunities and non-discrimination.
• Promote the universalization of access to broadband electronic communications networks and services and contribute to achieving the greatest possible territorial and social structuring through the deployment of networks and the provision of electronic communications services in the different areas of the Spanish territory.