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From the mid-90s on, cable became a key element in the strategies for progress of Catalan public bodies, which were coordinated in order to ensure that a single firm should obtain, in 1997, the licence with which to exploit cable television services throughout Catalonia. For this, Menta made a commitment to installing a new mixed network of fibre optic and coaxial cable, as well as to progressive introduction of multimedia services. At the same time, in adjudicating to Al-Pi, a subsidiary of France Télécom, the privatisation of its corporate network in 1998, the Catalan government obtained a commitment to the development of a fibre optic network which was to have connected Catalonia's regional capitals by 2001.
In thus backing operators that were alternatives to Telefónica, the local and autonomous authorities brought dynamism to a sector traditionally dominated by a state-wide monopoly. However, by the end of 1999 the development of the new networks was not meeting initial expectations and was creating a certain amount of social unease about the availability of broadband infrastructure in Catalonia. Telefónica then highlighted its strategic backing of ADSL technology for broadband services. The signing at the end of 2000 of an agreement between Telefónica, the Catalan government and the Localret consortium of municipalities guaranteeing the rapid development of such technology in Catalonia meant tacit recognition of the authorities' change of strategy.
This paper analyses the Catalan authorities' build-up of expectations, strategies and polices regarding cable. Reflection is also made on how the lessons learnt from cable might be useful in considering how to set about building the future of the Information Society in Catalonia.
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Català
