Spanish govt inks deal with operators to guarantee connectivity

News General Spain 23 MAR 2020
Spanish govt inks deal with operators to guarantee connectivity
Spain’s Minister of Economic Affairs and Digital Transformation Nadia Calvino has signed an agreement with the country’s main telecommunications operators aimed at guaranteeing the quality of networks during the coronavirus lockdown. The government has already ordered all operators to suspend fixed and mobile number portability processes during the "State of Alarm" announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on 14 March and has now agreed a series of measures to ensure digital services run smoothly during the disruption caused by the pandemic.

The voluntary commitments taken on by the operators including performing all necessary technical work to ensure connectivity, network operation and supervision, as well as speed of response to incidents, above all with regard to networks providing support to emergency services.

They also agreed to promote the responsible use of communication services to avoid jeopardising the integrity of networks, make every effort to keep customer service channels open, develop special measures to expand services for private, self-employed and small business customers, enrich audiovisual packages to help people in isolation as well as promoting teleworking, distance learning and remote healthcare.

Finally, the operators committed to offering free calls to the health care information number 061 for the duration of the state of alarm and to update and expand the list of initiatives to help the government achieve its aims with the least possible economic and personal damage to society.

The agreement was signed by Calvino as well as Cellnex Telecom CEO Tobias Martínez, Euskaltel CEO Jose Miguel García, Masmovil CEO Meinrad Spenger, Orange Spain CEO Laurent Paillassot, Telefonica Spain president Emilio Gayo, Vodafone Spain CEO Antonio Coimbra and the president of industry body AOTEC, Antonio Garcia.

Categories:

General

Companies:

Euskaltel,  Masmovil,  Orange Spain,  Vodafone Spain,  Telefonica,  Cellnex

Countries:

Spain

Tags:

Wholesale, Government policy

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