Avanza Infrastructures program (2008-2011)
The objective of "Avanza Infraestructures" funding program is to facilitate investments to extend telecommunication services' coverage to isolated and rural areas. Additionally, the target is to provide telecommunications services with conditions similar to those available in urban areas in order to foster economic development and the integration of citizens in the Information Society.
The objective is to continue PEBA program successes by increasing broadband coverage in very small population centres. Additionally and taken into account advances in technology and the need not only to provide broadband access but also to improve the service quality and speed, the objective is also to improve bandwidth and network capacity provided by telecommunication operators at rural areas.
Action lines
Five action lines compose the broadband strategy under the first call of this funding program:
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F1: Broadband and other telecommunication services development in rural and isolated areas : projects intended to develop access infrastructures in order to satisfy the demand for broadband connection from population in isolated and rural areas.
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F2: High-capacity rural networks : projects intended to develop rural backbone networks.
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F3: Pilot projects for advanced telecommunication services : projects intended to test in rural areas those innovative broadband technologies that are being spreaded in urban areas.
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F4: Access networks for local public services : projects intended to develop public networks so that citizens can access to Public Administration services.
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F5: Actions for conscience raising : projects intended to disseminate broadband advantages and opportunities so that digital divide can be narrowed.
Program requirements and philosophy
Avanza program requirements and philosophy are focused on competition preservation, technology neutrality and final service quality and affordability. Likewise a Monitoring Committee created in collaboration with the Autonomous Regions and the Local Administration is participating in the Avanza Programme and a narrow collaboration is being maintained.
Projects within the program first call (2008-2011)
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F1 action line projects: 13 projects from 4 telcos are being developed in order to provide broadband access to 10.034 population centres. Both cabled and wireless broadband access technologies are being used: ADSL, 3G/HSDPA, WIMAX and Satellite.
Envisaged investments amount to nearly 9 million € with a contribution by the Government of 2.1 million € non-recoverable subsidies and nearly 4.7 million € zero interest loans.
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F2 action line projects: 16 projects from 3 telcos are being developed in order to improve backbone networks of 721 town councils. Envisaged investments amount to nearly 46 million € with a contribution by the Government of 10.1 million € non-recoverable subsidies and nearly 21 million € zero interest loans.
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F3 action line projects: one pilot project is being developed within this action line by Innovamar tecnological foundation . The project objective is to develop ICTs at sea related industries in order tol update the fishing sector.
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F5 action line projects: taken into account the importance of training and advertising in order to increase Internet usage rates and literacy at rural areas, this action line objective is to disseminate advantages of broadband and telecommunication advanced services as well as available opportunities by accessing to the information society. Two projects are currently up and running:
- Cibermix: dissemination and illustrative experience focused on rural areas in relation with daily and social use of broadband
- Banesto Foundation project: the objective is to disseminate the objectives and advantages of using ICTs in order to increase Internet broadband subscribers by means of training and awareness campaigns