Asteo Observatory Report: “Overview of the digital environment and quality of life in rural areas” in Castilla y León
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The report was presented during the Asteo Conecta Conference held today in Valladolid, presided over by Pedro Abad, CEO of Asteo Red Neutra, and closed by the Deputy Minister of Digitalization of the Regional Government of Castilla y León, Luis Enrique Ortega Arnaiz
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Residents in rural areas view digitalization as a key strategy against depopulation and local unemployment
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For 65% of respondents in Castilla y León, having good fiber optic connectivity is essential when choosing a locality to live in, ten points above the national average of 55%
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7 out of 10 respondents view home digitalization as a positive factor in preventing elderly people from having to relocate
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Residents of Castilla y León who acknowledge using AI increased from 39% (in 2024) to 43% (at the end of 2025).
Valladolid, February 24, 2025.- 77% of residents in rural areas with internet access consider that creating online businesses and digital entrepreneurship are fundamental pathways to improve opportunities for residents in these areas. This is reflected in the IV annual report of the Asteo Observatory “Overview of the digital environment and quality of life in rural areas”, conducted in collaboration with Random Strategy, in Castilla y León. This study analyzes the digital environment and quality of life in municipalities of up to 10,000 inhabitants in this region.
The report was presented during the Asteo Conecta Conference held in Valladolid. Participants included Pedro Abad, CEO of Asteo Red Neutra; Giovanni Olcese, president of Ekiwi Movilidad; María García Rodríguez, Director of Operations at AgroTech Campus (ENIIT); Fernando Andrade, head of the Innoveas space at Cruz Roja Castilla y León; Antonio Ibáñez Pascual, Director General of Telecommunications and Digital Administration of the Regional Government of Castilla y León; Carlos Alberola-López, president of the Association of Telecommunications Engineers of Castilla y León (AITCyL) and director of the Higher Technical School of Telecommunications Engineering at the University of Valladolid; the journalist specializing in rural areas, Pablo Maderuelo; Laura Díaz Bettarel, Director of Communication and Marketing at Asteo; Manuel Garnelo, CTO of Asteo, and the Deputy Minister of Digital Transformation of the Regional Government of Castilla y León, Luis Enrique Ortega Arnaiz.
Key strategy against depopulation
As the report indicates, residents in rural areas view digitalization as a key strategy against depopulation and local unemployment. Those over 55 years old identify the greatest opportunity in this area (83%), followed by those over 65 years old (79%). This aspect was highlighted during the Asteo Conecta Conference by both the CEO of Asteo Red Neutra, Pedro Abad, and Deputy Minister Luis Enrique Ortega Arnaiz.
For Abad, connectivity “helps attract population to rural areas, has significant effects on the business fabric of the territory, and improves the quality of life for citizens.”
For his part, the Deputy Minister emphasized that for this digitalization to advance, a territorial strategy is necessary that brings together the public and private sectors. He highlighted the importance of municipalities in Castilla y León having solid and stable digital infrastructures that enable employment to continue developing from anywhere through remote work, and that have an encouraging effect on companies incorporating rural areas into their human resources policies. In his view, these measures will retain population, attract qualified professionals, and revitalize local commerce and services.
Essential to have connectivity for good quality of life
This high level of agreement is complemented by the fundamental position that connectivity occupies among residents of Castilla y León in their daily lives. For 8 out of 10 respondents, having high-speed connectivity in their locality is essential for a good quality of life. Connectivity is so crucial that 3 out of 10 residents would change their residence if it lacked connectivity.
In fact, connectivity ranks third among the factors that residents of Castilla y León cite as most important for living in a rural municipality. This aspect was also highlighted by the experts participating in the conference, who noted that the reality and future of rural areas depend on being well connected, both digitally and in terms of mobility, well supported, especially among our elderly, and on making agriculture more profitable through technology.
Healthcare, transport, and connectivity for better quality of life
As the Asteo Observatory report indicates, health and social care services are essential for 72%, while improvements in public transport are essential for 69%. For 65% of respondents in Castilla y León, having good fiber optic connectivity is essential when choosing a locality to live in, ten points above the national average of 55%. This figure also exceeds other relevant aspects such as access to housing (57%) or cultural activities (42%).
Regarding services that should be increased in their localities, healthcare and transport lead, with percentages above 80%. Internet users in rural areas of Castilla y León also include innovation and technological development programs among these demands. 81% consider that these programs should be increased, 13 points above the national average of 68%.
This is a significant demand, also found in the agrotech sector. According to data from the national report by the Asteo Observatory, only 22% of workers in the primary sector claim to have implemented any digital technology in their company or farm in the last year. The main barrier to innovation in agriculture, according to respondents, is the high cost of investment for 42%. As María García from Agrotech Campus stated, technology is essential for agriculture to have more attractive and profitable opportunities.
Entrepreneurship and remote work
In the opinion of respondents, digital entrepreneurship in rural areas, combined with remote work, can improve opportunities for those residing in these areas. The Observatory report indicates that 26% of workers surveyed in Castilla y León have the option to work remotely. Of these, 6 out of 10 take advantage of this possibility, and 48% work remotely every day.
Regarding the perception of remote work as a rural development tool, the consensus is very broad. 92% of respondents believe that remote work is a relevant factor in retaining population in small municipalities. In Castilla y León, support is high across all age segments, but especially among those under 35 years old (100% share this perception).
Smart homes and technology to improve quality of life
The 2025 report also indicates that, although “smart homes” are still in their early stages in rural areas of Castilla y León, 3 out of 10 households (27%) already have home automation/smart devices, and 17% of respondents in this region plan to incorporate these tools into their homes in the future.
Additionally, 24% of respondents have some individually connected appliances, a figure above the national average of 19%. Telecare and home automation are perceived as key supports for independent elderly people to remain in their homes without leaving their village. 7 out of 10 respondents view home digitalization as a positive factor in preventing elderly people from having to relocate.
Furthermore, 74% of those over 65 years old consider that this technology would allow them to reside in their home for a longer time instead of having to move to relatives’ homes or nursing facilities. As Fernando Andrade from Cruz Roja in Castilla y León stated, digital rights are an extension of human rights. “It is essential that we provide people with the opportunity to remain in their homes for as long as possible. Technology makes this possible,” he stated.
Use of artificial intelligence and exposure to hoaxes or fake news
The use of AI is also gaining momentum compared to the previous year. Residents of Castilla y León who acknowledge using AI increased from 39% (in 2024) to 43% (at the end of 2025). This growth, however, is somewhat below the national average, which increased from 31% to 43%. Those under 45 years old in rural environments are those who claim to have used these tools to a greater extent, while those over 65 are far removed from these technologies (85% state they do not use them).
Among those who use it, searching for information and using it for professional purposes are in the top positions. It is worth noting that Castilla y León is slightly above the national average in its use for leisure and entertainment (35% vs. 33%).
Regarding hoaxes or fake news, 7 out of 10 residents in rural areas (72%) have seen or received false news online at least once in the last year. 65% state that they consult multiple sources to verify this information, and 23% state that they read it but take no action to confirm it.
Growth in banking transactions and online shopping
Among the activities most frequently performed by internet users in Castilla y León are browsing the internet (89%), email (77%), social networks (72%), and banking transactions (70%). There is not much difference compared to the national average.
However, in Castilla y León, online shopping is more prevalent (51% vs. 42%) compared to the rest of Spain, as is connecting to listen to radio, music, or audiobooks (41% vs. 29%). Users between 16 and 45 years old are those who most frequently connect to the internet to perform these activities. Compared to last year, administrative procedures (+9%), banking transactions
(+8%), online shopping (+8%), and online medical consultations (+6%) have grown significantly.
Download the report here
