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November 19, 2024 – 06:22
Berlin, Nov 19 (EFE).- Spain has emerged as one of the countries that leads in terms of internet access and connectivity, with an increase in the percentage of fixed broadband connections based on fiber that went from 35% in 2016 to 86% in 2023, according to an OECD report presented this Tuesday in Tallinn.
“Spain has emerged as a leader in connectivity in Europe and in the OECD” since “the share of fiber in the total fixed broadband connections in Spain grew from 35% to 86% between 2016 and 2023,” stated the document, which is the second volume of the “OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024”.
The chapter on “Trends in Access and Connectivity” of the document prepared by the researchers of the Paris-based organization points out this finding regarding Spain, a country that has seen fixed broadband connections grow due to a “combination of regulation of wholesale access that stimulated competition and allocated public funds.
In this evolution, according to the document, Spain also benefited from the support of the European Regional Development Fund, which has allowed the implementation of “important programs to subsidize investment in connectivity in rural areas.”
In this way, Spain is among the leading OECD countries in terms of connectivity, although it does not reach the progress in this matter of its neighbor Portugal, a country that is on its way to reaching 100% for “basic Gigabit and 5G connectivity before 2030”, according to data from the European Commission.
Other countries that stand out for their strong commitment to fast internet and its infrastructure are Sweden, Norway, Luxembourg and South Korea.
The importance of digital strategy
Spain is also part of the countries that are included in the growing proportion of OECD nations that have a national digital strategy designed by a specific area of the Government.
In the Spanish case, this strategic document is entitled “Digital Spain 2026”.
“Almost half of the national digital strategies of the 38 countries surveyed in 2023 were designed by a ministry dedicated to the digital sector, compared to just under a quarter in 2016,” the OECD document recalled.
The OECD realized that the Spanish budget for said strategic plan reaches more than 20,000 million dollars (about 18,891 million euros) if the EU recovery funds are included.
Now, “if calculated as a percentage of GDP, Estonia is the country with the largest budget for national digital development strategies, with 3.3% of GDP,” according to the OECD.
The second volume of the “OECD Digital Economy Outlook 2024” is dedicated to the analysis of the digital priorities, policies and governance of the organization’s member countries.
It was published after the first volume, which was released last May, focused on presenting ideas about fundamental technologies for digital transformation and its repercussions.
The study presented this Tuesday arises, among other things, from the detailed analysis of almost 1,200 political initiatives on digital technology – especially Artificial Intelligence and 5G – carried out in OECD member countries in 2023.EFE
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What specific measures did Spain implement to ensure effective public-private partnerships in the expansion of digital connectivity?
1. Connectivity: How did Spain manage to have one of the highest percentages of fixed broadband connections based on fiber in the OECD, and how did this impact the country’s digital transformation?
2. Public-private partnerships: What role did policy and regulation play in fostering competition and attracting public funds for investment in connectivity? What were some of the challenges faced, and how were they addressed?
3. Digital strategy: What is the significance of having a national digital strategy, and how does it contribute to the overall digital development of a country? How has Spain’s “Digital Spain 2026” strategy been instrumental in driving digital progress within the country?
4. Infrastructure investment: With the European Regional Development Fund allocating funds for connectivity in rural areas, how has this benefited access to fast internet in less populated regions? What are some examples of successful partnerships or collaborations in this regard?
5. Digital leadership: Spain is among the leading countries in terms of connectivity and national digital strategies. How does this position it for future economic growth and global competitiveness? What are some areas where Spain can improve or innovate further?
6. International comparison: What are some of the best practices that Spain and other leading countries can share with each other to promote global digital inclusion and overcome common challenges such as digital divides?
