The new technologies division of the Formentera Council reports that mapping efforts were started today ahead of installation of fibre optic connections in es Ca Marí. Crews will make use of existing underground conduits as they begin routing the cables along camí de can Simonet.

High-speed connections are already in place in es Caló and la Mola, where registration for the service takes place in June. The changes represent the most recent steps in Telefónica and Teleco's plan—backed by the Formentera Council—for local fibre optic rollout.

The process started back in 2017, and in April 2018 Sant Francesc became the first town on Formentera to be fitted for the service. Next came es Pujols and the island's industrial corridor. High-speed connections were also extended to areas near urban centres.

Residents of Sant Ferran and la Savina have been able to sign up for a fibre optic connection since December, along with, more recently, islanders living near the hospital.

Rollout continues
In an effort to expand the service to all of Formentera, similar efforts are in the works for ses Bardetes and a part of es Cap de Barbaria.

CiF new technologies councillor Rafael González says the idea is “to get fibre optic connections everywhere until now serviced by traditional copper phone lines”, and, in so doing, make good on a longstanding appeal of islanders: “Put Formentera in the lead in terms of telecom services.”

Islanders who wish to find out if a fibre optic connection can be installed in their home should telephone 1004.

March 22, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

The new technologies division of the Formentera Council wishes to call attention to the recent purchase that will allow for the local small claims court to offer remote videoconferencing so islanders can take part in legal proceedings from their home. A similar system had fallen into disrepair after nine years of service.

Funding for the new, €3,188 system was provided by the Formentera Council. In November the Justice of the Peace—or Jutjat de la Pau—moved into new offices, at carrer Pla de Rei (120).

May 22, 2019
Àrea de Comunicació
Formentera Council

The Formentera Council's department of new technologies reports that as of December 26, residents in the centre of Sant Ferran have had the option to request connection to the fibre optic network. Likewise, neighbours across most of la Savina's urban centre have been able to request the operation since early December.

The two changes represent the latest advances in the rollout of Formentera's fibre optic network, a project first launched in 2017 and overseen by private firms Telefónica and Teleco with support from the Formentera Council. In April 2018 Sant Francesc became the first urban area on the island to undergo the upgrades, with downtown es Pujols and the industrial park's connections coming later. Other parts of the island near urban areas have also been hooked up to the network.

The rollout continues
Similar operations in the works in ses Bardetes, es Caló, la Mola and es Ca Marí mean every one of the island's urban hubs will soon boast fibre optic connections. Other spots included in the plans are the vicinity of the hospital and some of es Cap de Barbaria.

“Operations are set to continue for two years”, explained department head Rafael González, who noted “the Council's goal is to have connections everywhere traditional phone lines have been available till now”. González said the plan “is about responding to longstanding calls to put Formentera in the lead as far as telecom is concerned”.

To find out if fibre optic connections are available at their homes, islanders can telephone 1004.

The Formentera Council officials, together with representatives of Telefónica and Teleco, the company responsible for equipping the island for fibre optic internet, met this week to coordinate the work teams that will drive the rollout of Formentera's fibre optic network.

The gathering, attended by CiF new technologies secretary Rafael González as well as other Council staff and spokepeople from Telefónica and Teleco, was an opportunity for the officials to review the current state of local operations.

Today, 215 businesses and individuals have signed up for the service. The network has already been mounted in Sant Francesc, the island's industrial park and es Pujols, and efforts are under way to extend the service to la Savina and Sant Ferran by October.

González applaued Telefónica's initiative in underwriting the rollout of fibre optic, “which has made high-speed internet a reality today in 215 homes and businesses”. He also pointed up the collaboration between the local administration and Telefónica and Teleco as crucial to the project's“seamless execution”.

Other areas of concern
Administration officials raised the question of setting up a local point of sale and information kiosk, as well as precisions regarding the efforts under way to put an end to the temporary cuts that have dogged the service in the past. The issue of safeguards for the underwater cable in Cala Saona was also raised. Telefónica reps made note of the questions and, with regard to the cable, said a signalling system had already been installed to help prevent breakage.