David Flynn21 November 2009, 6:53 PM
Internet connections of at least 1Mbps, at a fixed and regulated rate, will be included in a revised ‘universal service’ obligation as a legal obligation for Spanish telcos.
Spain is follows in the footsteps of Euro-partner
Finland in declaring that low-cost Internet is a legal right for all its people.
A new ‘universal service’ contract will require Spanish carriers to offer at least a 1Mbps connection to every resident, even in the most far-flung corners of the country, as of 2011.
The pricing will be fixed and regulated by the government, with a subsidy available for disabled users who will rely on the connection more than the able-bodied.
Some industry groups have criticised the 1Mbps floor as being too low and too slow, however, considering that such speeds are already available to all broadband users.
The aim of the Spanish government, however, is to ensure that homes can enjoy a reliable 1Mbps connection even in areas where broadband currently doesn’t reach. This could involve using wireless rather than ADSL in the country’s many remote areas, which is the same strategy being adopted in Finland.
The decision by Spain and Finland to make broadband a legal obligation of carriers and a right of citizens is expected to spur discussion of similar plans in other countries, most notably members of the EU.