Spain launches €17.9 million program to fund 5G rollout in remote rural areas

The Spanish Ministry for the Digital Transformation and Public Function has opened a new aid scheme called “5G Redes muy rurales” to finance the deployment of native 5G Stand‑Alone (5G SA) networks in municipalities that currently have no 4G or 5G coverage. The programme aims to narrow the digital divide between urban and rural areas and to support the country’s broader digital‑economy agenda.

The scheme carries a budget of €17.9 million, of which €15.6 million is sourced from the European Union’s 2021‑2027 FEDER fund and the remainder from national resources. Published in the Official State Gazette, the call remains open until 10 September and invites collaboration with autonomous communities, local authorities and other public bodies. A public consultation in March identified eligible zones, and 96 proposals from 25 provinces have been made available to telecom operators for inclusion in their rollout projects.