The Comisión Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia (CNMC) has published its inaugural biennial report on the quality of telecommunications services in rural areas, comparing user experiences in low-density municipalities with those in urban settings. This report is in accordance with Article 69 of the General Telecommunications Law.

The analysis reveals that while the digital divide has narrowed in recent years, significant differences remain between urban and rural environments. Specifically, areas with fewer inhabitants tend to have less access to advanced technologies, lower connection speeds, and a greater reliance on alternative technologies.

In terms of fixed broadband, the report indicates a high availability across the country, with nearly 99% of urban households having access compared to only 78% in rural areas. Fiber optic technology is prevalent in both settings, but its presence is notably lower in municipalities with fewer than 100 residents, where users often depend on mobile, Wi-Fi, or satellite connections. The majority of connections exceed 100 Mb/s, but those over 1 Gb/s are more common in urban areas.

For mobile services, the report shows that while coverage is extensive, with 94% of rural municipalities having access to three mobile networks, the rollout of 5G technology is lagging. Only 15.4% of rural municipalities have access to three 5G networks, compared to 49.7% in urban areas.

Despite these disparities, the report concludes that the quality of services is adequate for typical uses such as web browsing, video streaming, and calls. User satisfaction levels are generally high in both rural and urban areas, although rural users tend to provide slightly less positive feedback.