The Government sees it as "urgent" to modernize the regulation of the 'telco' sector in the EU to guarantee investments

MADRID, 22 Oct. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Secretary of State for Telecommunications and Digital Infrastructure, María González Veracruz, considers that the telecommunications sector in the European Union (EU) is at a "key moment" in which there is "a certain urgency" to redefine and modernize regulation to "give clear support" to companies and guarantee the necessary investments for the deployment of 5G and the objectives of the EU's 'Digital Decade'.

This will be the position that the Executive will defend in the framework of the informal meeting of telecommunications ministers that will be held in León between October 23 and 24 within the framework of the Spanish presidency of the Council, González Veracruz said in an interview with Europe Press.

"Spain considers that it is a key moment in which there is a certain urgency to redefine and modernize the regulation of the sector and, ultimately, give clear support to our companies, so that they generate a clearly sustainable sector and that this gives us European sovereignty, which is key at the moment we are in (in reference to the current geopolitical tensions). But, at the same time, to guarantee investments in the deployment of 5G and in all those challenges of the 'Digital Decade", the Secretary of State has assured .

In this context, González Veracruz recognizes that it is complicated to specify measures, which is why one of the objectives set by the Government for the León meeting is "to build majorities and involve the countries in this urgency."

"Europe has to be competitive and competition policies have to help us always be competitive, but defending consumers and with the citizen at the center. Precisely because we have the citizen at the center we need a strong sector capable of continuing to invest and continue to be at the forefront," he said.

In that sense, asked about whether getting European telecommunications companies to boost their profitability again is compatible with affordable retail prices, González Veracruz considers that this is the "great objective."

"The path we have to take has to be viable with a balance. What is evident is that in order to lead everything that we have proposed as Europe, the objectives of the 'Digital Decade' or that digital sovereignty so important with the conflict geopolitical world that we are experiencing, I believe that we cannot do without that leg of balance, which is that of the strength of the sector and the guarantee of investments," he said.

In his opinion, Europe has shown - and Spain in particular, he clarifies - that it is possible to guarantee the rights of citizens, affordability, the competition that generates "a reasonable price market like that of Spain and the universalization of access to technology".

In this sense, the Secretary of State has stressed that the Government has managed to close the digital divide in Spain through different programs supported by European funds, such as the 'Conectate 35' and 'Unico Demanda Rural' initiatives. or the more than 1 billion in subsidies aimed at promoting 5G infrastructure in collaboration with the private sector.

Precisely, last week the call for 544 million euros in aid was published within the 'Unique 5G Active Networks' program for the deployment of 5G in municipalities with less than 10,000 inhabitants, subsidies that are marked by the possible veto of the equipment Chinese, which caused Huawei and Vodafone to appeal the bases order that regulates them.

Asked about the list of risk suppliers in Europe - Spain has not published a list of them - the Secretary of State highlights that Spain is a country that "has its homework done in terms of 5G cybersecurity" with legislation which provides, in his opinion, a "very adequate framework for making decisions."

"We have always chosen for decisions to be made within the European framework, because we also believe that it does not make sense to do it any other way. Our own Royal Decree responds to a European philosophy, but we are also very aware and aligned with what the European Commission and the rest of the countries are adopting it together," he highlighted.

"I think it is important to wait for the update of the 'toolbox' recommendation that the Commission is about to release. We are being coherent and at the same time prudent on an issue that is very key and strategic for the country," he added.

This same week, on October 17, González Veracruz celebrated her first year since taking office as Secretary of State for Telecommunications, a period that, as she recognizes, has been "intense" and "productive", but also " reap the fruits" of the work done in previous years.

"I could not affirm with complete pride, as I do, that we have closed the digital divide in this country (...) without pointing out that all this is the result of a lot of work, very clear objectives of the digital agenda and a great public investment," he assured.

However, González Veracruz is especially proud of the 'Conéctate 35' program, which offers the possibility of contracting a connection through the Hispasat satellite with 100 megabits per second (Mbps) download at a price of 35 euros per month.

"I would like to highlight it a lot because with fiber plus satellite we reach any home, any company, any entrance booth to a national park that does not have coverage... with conditions of ultra-fast speed and affordability that is essential. I believe that this step that Spain has taken in having the entire territory connected is territorial cohesion, it is equality, but above all it is opportunities," he highlighted.

Regarding this, he has elaborated on the need for any inhabitant of the most remote town in Spain to be aware that they can have access to ultra-high speed internet in an affordable way.

Thus, for example, it makes a "positive call" for autonomous governments, especially newly created ones, to get even more involved so that all state programs of this type "are effective" in all the municipalities of the country.