The Ministry of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation, through the Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructures, has launched the third call for the UNICO Broadband program.
These aids will allow the continuation of the deployment of the necessary infrastructures to guarantee adequate connectivity to 100% of the population in Spain, contributing to the universalisation of ultra-fast coverage throughout the national territory. An objective set by the Government in the Digital Spain Agenda for 2025.
This new call for aid to bring the broadband connection through fibre optics, is added to the implementation of the UNICO Rural Demand program that provides, through Hispasat, satellite connectivity to remote and unpopulated areas. Thanks to these investments and, in particular, to satellite, the closing of the digital divide is, de facto, a reality in 2023.
Connectivity for more than 380,000 homes and businesses
This call for aid will facilitate the deployment of ultra-fast broadband, through fibre optics, in more than 380,000 homes and companies (76% homes). This technology is capable of providing services of at least 300 Mbps, scalable to 1Gbps.
This edition of the UNICO Broadband program, which gives continuity to the launches in 2021 and 2022, has a budget of 150 million euro and is intended to universalise ultra-fast broadband coverage via fibre as a tool for social cohesion in the framework of the Recovery Plan.
The authorised telecommunications operators can submit their applications until September 15 for the areas identified as eligible and published on the Ministry’s aid portal, as well as in the BOE. Each of the concurrency areas includes minimum coverage objectives in real estate units (homes and companies).
UNIQUE program
Within the framework of the Recovery, Transformation and Resilience Plan, the Universal Infrastructure for Cohesion (UNICO) program was launched in 2021, with the aim of continuing to expand the ultra-fast broadband connection in Spanish territory, boosting the 5G technology and promote R&D in Advanced 5G and 6G technologies.
The UNICO-Broadband program continues the work begun in 2013 with the New Generation Broadband Extension Program (PEBA), which has contributed to placing Spain among the leading countries in the EU in the deployment of high-capacity networks and with better connectivity.
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