In mid-2019, volunteer residents of Marata, a municipal district of Les Franqueses del Vallès, contacted the guifi·net Foundation to promote the extension of fiber optics to more than 40 houses in the area to provide broadband Internet access through local operators.
The residents argue that the major operators charge abusive prices to reach the houses and maintain a monopoly. Following various conversations and meetings among the residents, they decided to promote the common fiber optic network of guifi·net. A model where the residents themselves own the network and can contract local operators.
The approximate cost of the fiber optic extension project is 80,000€, but with contributions of 1,500€ per household, it is planned to request the remaining approximate 20,000€ from the City Council to complete the project.
Iniciativa ciutadana per fer arribar fibra òptica a Marata