(Telecompaper) Spain has finally approved the new General Telecommunications Act, a long-awaited update to the 2003 Act, after all the main Spanish parties PP, PSOE, CiU and PNV voted in favour of the new text. A total of 179 amendments were incorporated, 34 of them by the Spanish senate last week. The new law aims to simplify procedures to allow operators to invest in the deployment of fibre optic and 4G networks by eliminating licences, authorizations and tax charges, introducing market unity and facilitating access to networks in a transparent and non-discriminatory manner. It also contains measures to reduce the digital divide and increase broadband access, including a commitment to guarantee a minimum broadband connection speed of 10 Mbps to all Spaniards by 2017, increasing to 30 Mbps by 2020, by which time at least half of the Spanish population will access to 100 Mbps, according to the government. In addition, the government will collaborate with Spain's autonomous communities to extend 30 Mbps coverage to public institutions such as universities, schools and libraries by 2016.