Equal internet access pledge to fight depopulation in Almeria

THE provincial government says it’s working to bring fibre optic to all of Almeria’s 103 municipalities.
The Diputacion de Almeria said the aim was to achieve equal internet access across the province, referring to it as another tool for fighting depopulation in smaller areas, especially inland.
The deputy with responsibility for measures on addressing depopulation, Fernando Gimenez, said he was working with New Technology deputy Domingo Fernandez and with fibre optic operators.
Gimenez explained that as an initial step the provincial administration has carried out an exhaustive study on existing cover, to assess which municipalities already have fibre optic and which don’t, and which are the areas of the province where installation will present the most complications.
The deputy maintained it is the Diputacion’s firm intention to get the fibre optic initiative up and running.
“One of the main objectives we set out from the first moment was to drive measures aimed at fixing population in our municipalities”, he commented.
“In order that the inhabitants of the smallest municipalities can contemplate starting a business, and so those already set up can function with all the guarantees, the province needs a fibre optic network which allows work and undertakings in any point”, he stressed.
The deputy also claimed the provincial administration’s plans were pioneering in the country in that the internet speed introduced into municipalities would be between 50 Mbps and 1 GBps.
“It is a much more ambitious plan than any other initiative which has been presented up until now for its reach of the 103 municipalities and the speed, which will guarantee that you can make video calls, telework; in short have the same services and opportunities in all the municipalities”, he claimed.
Gimenez concluded that “putting initiatives of this kind into action will as well as keeping populations settled mean equal opportunities for all Almerians regardless of the municipality in which they live.”
The deputy also claimed the provincial administration’s plans were pioneering in the country in that the internet speed introduced into municipalities would be between 50 Mbps and 1 GBps.
“It is a much more ambitious plan than any other initiative which has been presented up until now for its reach of the 103 municipalities and the speed, which will guarantee that you can make video calls, telework; in short have the same services and opportunities in all the municipalities”, he claimed.
Gimenez concluded that “putting initiatives of this kind into action will as well as keeping populations settled mean equal opportunities for all Almerians regardless of the municipality in which they live.”