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High-speed internet, smart homes, AI, telework: are these really changing life in rural areas, or just widening existing divides?
In this online session, taking place at 11:00 – 12:30 CET, you will learn how digitalisation is increasingly shaping quality of life in rural areas. Topics covered will include connectivity, employment, ageing, access to services and information reliability.
Drawing on insights from the 2025 study “Overview of the Digital Environment and Quality of Life in the Rural World”, based on a survey conducted by Observatorio Asteo among internet users in rural areas. This online session will explore how digital infrastructures, emerging technologies, and new work models are transforming daily life in Spanish municipalities with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants, including survey data from centres located in municipalities of up to 5,000 residents. Notably, 95% of Spanish rural internet users believe that home digitalisation can significantly improve the quality of life of the elderly, highlighting the social impact of digital tools. The discussion will also address persistent gaps such as unequal access to fibre, low teleworking uptake, and exposure to disinformation, and their implications for rural development and social cohesion.
The final report of the study was presented on 10 December 2025, at the European Union Representation Office in Madrid. You can read more information in the official press release.