Rajoy pledges fibreoptic roll-out to 85% of population

President Mariano Rajoy says he intends to 'give a definitive push' to plans to extend fast connections to 'all towns, cities and villages in Spain, if possible', or at least, leaving no more than 15% of country's inhabitants without access.

The New Generation Broadband Extension Programme (PEBA-NGA) 2013-2017 comprises a public funding scheme for internet and mobile phone operators, as well as European Union FEDER local development grants.

So far in 2017, State funding has been given to 138 projects presented by 33 network operators, costing a total of €169.4 million, of which the government has stumped up around 60%, or €105m.

More built-up and densely-populated areas are likely to already have some fibreoptic connection available, although even some large towns off the tourist trail and nowhere near Spain's largest cities have been unable to acquire the service.

Some very isolated rural parts have no internet connection or mobile phone signal at all, or where they do, it is very basic.

Large swathes of sparsely-populated inland regions, such as Aragón and Castilla y León, have a high proportion of municipalities with fewer than 100 or even fewer than 50 inhabitants, and long distances between them, meaning it is not economically viable for operators to set up networks.