From how many devices do people connect to the Internet in ultra-rural areas?

Asteo Observatory

In the ultra-rural areas that do have Internet, there is a large presence and use of devices that work best with fixed network connectivity and yield data very similar to those of urban centers. We highlight the detail of “have Internet” because it is important to remember because it is important to remember that currently in municipalities with less than 30,000 inhabitants and below 100 residents/km2 the fiber coverage is 60% compared to 88% nationally. Therefore, from how many devices are connected in towns with less than 1,000 people?

According to the study conducted by the ASTEO Observatory on “Digital habits in rural populations”. “Digital habits in rural populations“, on average, residents in municipalities with less than 1,000 inhabitants have 5.4 devices to connect to the Internet and use 4.4 very frequently.

What are the devices with the highest usage?

1.- Mobile phone (97%)

2.- Laptop (82%)

Smart TV ( 62%)

4.- Tablet/iPad (58%)

5.- Desktop PC (46%)

Smart devices (such as Alexa) and consoles are below 30%; while e-books, video surveillance systems and home automation equipment are below 20%.

And what activities do Internet users in these populations engage in most frequently at the individual level?

89% surf the net, 83% use e-mail, 79% use it for social networks/messaging, 68% to do business with the bank, and 52% to enjoy movies, series or watch sports. To a lesser extent, but with relevant percentages of use, are shopping online (50%), administrative procedures (40%) and listening to podcasts or radio (34%).

And from where do they make these connections? Mostly 92% connect from home.

In conclusion, once the residents of these rural and ultra-rural areas have access to Internet through fiber with good quality and speed, usage is intensive and in high demand.

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Patricia Moreno Pacheco

Deployment Manager Director

Trained as an architect at the University of Seville and with international experience after her studies at the Leibniz Universität Hannover, she has a multidisciplinary technical profile. He stands out for his analytical capacity and leadership in telecommunications infrastructures, providing a highly consolidated strategic vision.

Her career began in civil architecture, working as a Municipal Architect and energy certifier. In 2017 she oriented her career towards the telco sector by joining Nokia as FTTx Network Design Engineer. For five years, he participated in large multinational deployments for operators in the USA, Italy, Chile, the Philippines and Germany. Later, at Inelcom, he took over team management and implementation support for the German UGG network, mastering the construction and last mile phases. All this international supervisory experience brought her to Asteo Red Neutra in 2023, where she manages field operations as Deployment Manager.

Away from blueprints and fiber optics, he is an active person who likes to enjoy his free time. He is passionate about climbing, paddle tennis and traveling, always looking for new environments to disconnect.

Laura Díaz

Marketing & Communications Director

With 20 years of experience, Laura has developed the communication strategy for national and international companies. Since the official launch of ASTEO Red Neutra, she has led its communication and content strategy as an external consultant, until her incorporation to the team.

She started her career as a journalist in the IT sector. She specialised in Communication, advising companies in various sectors (banking, asset management, private equity, insurance and insurtech or telecommunications). She led Evercom's Financial Communication department, in charge of the area's growth strategy and the management of the team and clients.

She graduated in journalism from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, in Venezuela, took the ABC-UCM master's degree in journalism, and complemented her education with studies in International Business at Dublin Business School, and sustainability at the University of Cambridge.

Married to Santi, she is the mother of two children and, whenever she has some free time, she loves going swimming and to the cinema or enjoying long dinners with friends.