“Tenerife is ideal to host the headquarters of the Spanish Agency for the Supervision of Artificial Intelligences”. The insular president assures it, Peter Martinwhen questioned about the values of the island’s candidacy to host this newly created national entity of the Government of Spain, which will monitor the combination of algorithms necessary to create machines with the same or similar capabilities to human beings, which is what artificial intelligence is based on. However, Martín clarifies that he does not resign for this bet or others such as the Spanish Space Agency, the European Tourism Agency or the National Center of Volcanology, to which the Island Corporation also aspires. “We have solid arguments both in the Space Agency and in the Artificial Intelligence Agency,” Martín clarified. “Both seem very important to me,” he clarifies. Regarding the second, the president expresses his “illusion” and that of his team, since “the Cabildo maintains a path defined long ago to equip itself with absolutely necessary infrastructures when it comes to proposing itself as a destination.”
A key concept to achieve the objective, according to Martín, is that of «connectivity in all senses». About Tenerife has an excellent telecommunications network and it is an optimal territory for the establishment and development of activities related to the information technology and communications sector. This is the driving idea of the government group (PSOE-Cs) in its proposal to receive the headquarters of this newly created entity.
He appreciates that the Island is home to international telecommunications companies that have extensive coverage via satellite and interconnection through submarine fiber optic cabling. Specifically, there are 50 satellites that provide services and allow certain areas, such as rural and maritime areas, to have coverage. As for submarine fiber optic cable connections, Tenerife has 9 connections with the European Union, 4 with Africa and 2 with America.
On the other hand, through the Technological and Renewable Energy Institute (ITER), the Insular Telecommunications Ring is being developed on the road and railway infrastructures. Martín insists on the advantage of having “a very complete network of submarine fiber cable that connects with the Canary Islands, with Africa and with Europe.” A Tenerife project “but that physically leaves Gran Canaria because the cable starts from El Goro, in Telde,” the president specifies. «We promote the connection of the Islands with Europe and with the rest of the world. An advantage. To this we must add “the air connection network with more than one hundred destinations. They are key elements that have led us to present our candidacy to the agency.” Pedro Martín includes a physical headquarters, yet to be determined, “but for which we have spaces.”
He clarifies that “in recent years we have strengthened that ability to connect with the world.” He underlines that “we are already working on a 5G project with a very high speed of data information.” Pedro Martín reflects: «The Cabildo has increased investment in those networks that I have mentioned but, in addition, it is evident that we have a series of special attractions. Just one detail: we are the tenth destination in the world in digital nomads ».
Highlights the president of council as another “fundamental” element that people “have the possibility of reaching this Island from anywhere in the world. Because we have two airports and because we are connected by air to multiple destinations.”
“Let’s add all the research and development work that positions us as a first-rate digital center,” he adds. It is “a decisive element when talking about artificial intelligence.” He mentions the two supercomputers, the Teide HPC and Anaga, and emphasizes: “We have invested several million euros in the computing we have at ITER.” He states: “Two years ago we developed a powerful artificial intelligence program in the tourism field, which is equipped with powerful tools.”
Martín clarifies that “it is my obligation to position Tenerife for projects of this type in the first place, but not to compete with Gran Canaria but with the rest of Spain and Europe.” He explains that there are many applicants to host these centers. “I will always be glad that they come to the Canary Islands but, logically, I am going to defend Tenerife.” You won’t have to wait too long. The calendar establishes that at the latest at the beginning of next year all the venues will be known.
