The deployment of technological infrastructure in rural areas has moved beyond the phase of simple basic connectivity to become a genuine testing and development ground. To delve deeper into this reality, the Asteo Conecta event, held in Valladolid, hosted the round table:
The rural world as a laboratory for telecommunications innovation
Moderated by Manuel Garnelo, CTO of Asteo Red Neutra, the panel included the participation of Antonio Ibáñez Pascual, Director General of Telecommunications and Digital Administration of the Regional Government of Castilla y León, and Carlos Alberola, President of the Association of Telecommunication Engineers of Castilla y León (AITCyL) and Director of the ETSI of Telecommunication at the University of Valladolid. Throughout the conversation, they addressed geographical challenges, hybrid technological solutions, real-world use cases, and the future of talent in the region.
The geographical challenge: extending the network across a vast territory
Castilla y León presents a demographic and territorial challenge unique in Europe, which directly influences connectivity policies. To understand the magnitude of the challenge, Antonio Ibáñez contextualized the situation with figures: “Castilla y León covers approximately 94,000 square kilometers. In other words, it is the largest autonomous community in Spain; it is larger than Portugal, Austria, or Hungary—larger than many European Union countries, to limit ourselves to our continent. And around 2.4 million inhabitants live in that territory. That is to say, if we do the math, it results in a density of 25 inhabitants per square kilometer, which is basically 1/4 of the national average.”
Given this enormous dispersion, bringing fiber optics to every corner is complex and costly. For this reason, Carlos Alberola advocated for a technological model that combines different solutions to ensure no one is left disconnected: “The deployment of fiber in places with very small populations involves a massive cost, even though it is probably the best solution. One of the things being done very well is mixed networks […] I would say that probably the best option, especially for situations with dispersed clusters, etc., is a hybrid system—a system that manages fiber as far as is sensible and, from there, provides coverage via fixed radio or even satellite in typically dispersed areas.”
Use cases: from theory to massive sensorization
Beyond infrastructure, the true value lies in the use of data. Public administrations are already leading transformative projects. Antonio Ibáñez highlighted the impact of sensorization on the management of municipal public services through the Smart Rural Territory project:
“There is a common platform that houses all the data from more than 4,000 sensors located in waste containers in more than 400 municipalities. Within that platform, those responsible at the Provincial Council, the City Council, or the Directorate General of Natural Heritage can manage collection times.” The processing of this data requires efficient technology, he explained.
Technological talent takes root in the territory
This entire innovation ecosystem would not be possible without the right professionals. The sector is experiencing a golden age of full employment. Antonio Ibáñez stressed the extreme need for technical profiles in both the private and public sectors: “There is a high demand for professional telecommunications and computer engineers. It is a very ‘sweet’ moment for the profession, and although many ICT professionals are being trained in Castilla y León—both in telecommunications and IT—there are not enough. The public administration, just like private companies, sees the need to have ICT talent.”
Fortunately, this talent is no longer forced to emigrate en masse as happened in past decades. Carlos Alberola reflected on how technological decentralization now allows for a full career to be developed within the community itself:
“The answer is yes. I remember the school here in Valladolid. It started in ’90 and I believe the first class graduated in ’95. Of course, at that time, except for those who stayed at the school and a few who stayed in the administration, the vast majority went to Madrid. […] That is no longer the case. Whoever wants to can go to Madrid or the big cities, to Barcelona… or anywhere in the world, because fortunately, training in these engineering fields is completely transversal. But whoever wants to stay can, and there are plenty of options here.”
The panel concluded by noting that technological innovation applied to traditional industries—such as agriculture or the wine sector—combined with intelligent infrastructure deployment, is turning the rural environment into a space full of real opportunities for companies and professionals in the technology sector.
