This lack of coverage and effective connection leaves Fataga “digitally isolated” within San Bartolomé de Tirajana
Since 2021, the municipality of San Bartolomé de Tirajana has witnessed a significant digital transformation with the arrival of fibre optics, which has improved connectivity for thousands of residents and visitors. Localities such as Aldea Blanca, San Fernando, El Tablero, San Agustín, Playa del Inglés, Tunte, Ayacata, Risco Blanco, El Sequero and Cercados de Araña are already enjoying the benefits of this advance in telecommunications. Thanks to these improvements, residents of these areas now have faster and more reliable access to the internet, essential for modern life and for sectors such as tourism and commerce.
However, in the midst of this digital advance, Fataga continues to be left out. Despite Telefónica's efforts since 2021 to bring fiber optics to rural areas in the midlands, this essential service has not yet reached the town. The situation is complicated by a conflict with a local landowner, who is seeking to reach a mutually satisfactory agreement, requesting the removal of the old Telefónica network that runs through his property and the diversion of the cabling around his land. Although the owner has shown his willingness to collaborate, his request has been left on the table without anyone trying to resolve and continue the project, leaving Fataga without the benefits of adequate connectivity.
Currently, residents and businesses in Fataga depend on a minimal connection that does not even reach a mega speed, a limitation that directly affects the local economy and the daily lives of its inhabitants. only ATM in the area, for example, suffers from constant connectivity problems, which affects the card payments and creates inconveniences for the turismo rural and business trying to operate in a virtually isolated area. This lack of coverage and effective connection leaves Fataga “digitally isolated” within San Bartolomé de Tirajana, while neighbouring towns, such as Santa Lucía de Tirajana, already enjoy adequate fibre optic coverage.
The Fataga community urgently needs a solution. Residents and business owners of the town hope that the San Bartolomé de Tirajana City Council will take up the issue with due importance, promoting mediation to resolve the conflict with the owner and prioritising the arrival of fibre optics. Connectivity is not only a basic need in today's world, but a right that allows access to educational, economic and social opportunities.
