Universal service: Fix and mobile telephony, Broadband and DTT Eduard Falcó Secretariat for Telecommunications and Information Society, Government of Catalonia Workshop: Stimulating regional economies through high speed internet access Brussels, 7th May 2009

Workshop: Stimulating regional economies through high speed internet access Brussels, 7th May 2009 Universal Service and the scheme “Catalunya Connecta” The “Universal Service for Telecommunications” recognizes the right of citizens and companies to enjoy the services of fixed telephony and internet access current universal service The scheme “Catalunya Connecta” tries to broaden the concept of universal service and provide coverage of DTT, mobile telephony and broadband internet, at least all village of more than 50 inhabitants, and provide coverage for mobile telephony and broadband internet to all industrial areas Fixed telephonyInternet access DTT channels Broadband internet access Fixed telephony Mobile telephony

Workshop: Stimulating regional economies through high speed internet access Brussels, 7th May 2009 The projects of the scheme “Catalunya Connecta” At first, “Catalunya Connecta” plan analyzes the coverage of different services throughout the territory and the solutions where weaknesses have been found Initial analysis Actions in infrastructures After the initial analysis “Catalunya Connecta” has two different actions to ensure the availability of telecommunications infrastructure throughout the territory: sharing existing infrastructures, and build new infrastructures funded by the Generalitat (Radiocom-Inf project) Projects Services At the time that it has secured the availability of infrastructures, “Catalunya Connecta” puts into operation three projects designed to provide the following services: mobile telephony (MTR-Mobile Telephony Rural), DTT(DTTR-DTT Rural) and broadband internet (BAR-Broadband Rural) of this infrastructures

Workshop: Stimulating regional economies through high speed internet access Brussels, 7th May 2009 Infrastructure projects When there is no infrastructure in the territory or no existing infrastructure can be shared, the “Catalunya Connecta” plan invests on the construction of a new infrastructure through project “Radiocom-Inf” At first, “Catalunya Connecta” always tries to exploit the possibilities of sharing existing infrastructures in the territory, negotiating with the owners of these infrastructures and adapt them to the needs (height, electric power, strengthening of the infrastructure, etc) and adding wherever necessary, new electronic equipment Infrastructure sharing RADIOCOM-Inf

Workshop: Stimulating regional economies through high speed internet access Brussels, 7th May 2009 The broadband project % Villages covered by region Min valueMax value (ADSL + WiMAX) 4Q 2010 (ADSL + WiMAX) The Rural Broadband Project (BAR) tries to add broadband to universal service where private operators do not offer ADSL service. This project is funded by the Government of Catalonia and its goal is to provide internet access to all villages of more than 50 inhabitants and all the industrial estates of Catalonia before the end of TOTAL CATALUNYA (Information 2005) villages + 46 scattered with council./EMD TOTAL OF VILLAGES WITH BROADBAND ACCESS Development for the next phases Year 2003At the end of 2008At the end of 2010 VILLAGES / % / 33,4%2.846 / 88,4%3.134 / 97,8% INHABITANTS / % / 81,7% / 97,1% / 98,3% 2003 (ADSL)

Workshop: Stimulating regional economies through high speed internet access Brussels, 7th May 2009 Funding Management of the Rural Development Fund in Catalonia Chosen strategy Due to its administrative structure, Spain has chosen to implement the rural development policy through rural development programmes (RDP) established at the regional level by the Autonomous Communities. Seventeen regional and two horizontal programmes (the National Framework and the Rural Network drafted at the national level) have been prepared. The National Framework was adopted by the Commission on 28th November 2007 and does not itself use any of the budget. Instead, regional programmes and the rural development network provide the basis for the co-financing of Spanish programmes from the EAFRD budget. In Catalonia, the overall objectives were chosen in accordance with the Community Strategic Guidelines (CSG), the National Strategy Plan and the Spanish National Framework. The priorities and objectives of this RDP can be summarised under four headings: Competitiveness of the agri-food sector. Sustainability and natural environment. Diversification of the quality of life in rural areas. Development of the local capacity and diversification. Our main goal In Catalonia, the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action is the agency responsible for managing this fund. Of 1,000 M € of Economic Recovery Plan to be allocated to invest in rural broadband through the Rural Development Fund, it is estimated that 3M € correspond to Catalonia. Therefore, from the Secretariat of Telecommunications and Information Society, our main goal is to promote and negotiate with the Department of Agriculture, Food and Rural Action that this budget be allocated to subsidize the construction plans of infrastructure that we have designed and implemented in accordance with the guidelines for the Plan of Government for this term. This is an opportunity for us and our goal is to achieve it!

Moltes gràcies! Thank you! Eduard Falcó Workshop: Stimulating regional economies through high speed internet access Brussels, 7th May 2009