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National carrier 'Telefonica' currently enjoys a virtual monopoly over telephone line provision and services in Spain. Whilst Telefonica is subject to EU regulations and Spanish law regarding universal access to services, the company moves at a snails pace when it wants to.
When buying a property it is important to check whether it has a phone line already connected and if it hasn't, check with nearby property owners and see if they have phone lines. Where lines are available to install, Telefonica will connect you very quickly. If your property does not have a phone line and the neighbours say you can't get one, be concerned.
Many estate agents will claim phone lines are easily available, that you can get a "digital phone", or even that the property has a phone line when it doesn't. Be wary. I've lost count of the number of properties advertised by other agents claiming to come with phone line or with a phone line installed within a couple of weeks.
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Ignoring ISDN there are typically 3 types of phone line you will come across. One is "RTB" which is your basic fixed telephone line. Another is the old style "radio phone". Finally, you have the new "digital(?) Trak" phones, a replacement to the radio phones.
Telefonica are replacing the old radio phones with Trak phones. If you see a property that has a radio phone installed but that has been disconnected, chances are Telefonica will not reconnect it - you have been warned. Many estate agents claim that the new Trak phones give you four phone numbers,allow you to do several things at once, that they are super fast and ... that you will get one in a couple of weeks.
The new Trak phones come with four numbers but they are for internal (?) use only. They work on mobile technology but function like a normal house phone. Just as with a normal phone you can only do one thing at a time. Use the internet and nobody can call you. Trak phones are on average slower than dialup for internet but useable where the radio phones are next to useless for internet.
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| When ordering a phone line where there is no current service expect to be waiting up to a couple of years. This is no joke. Ignore vendors or estate agents that claim otherwise. In some areas, Telefonica are claiming there is no infrastructure even for Trak phones. In cases where no phone line is available, consider Satellite Broadband & Phone which will save you months if not years of waiting.
MOBILE PHONES
There are three operators in Spain - Movistar (part of Telefonica), Vodafone and Amena. Not all operators have coverage in the same area so check before investing in a new phone. "Pay as you go" phones are common and cost anything from €39 euros upward. Once you have one, your operator will give you regular offers on topups, messaging etc. Contract phones are typically for 18 months and you will need to prove your address in Spain and have bank details and Passport or Residencia to hand. You can't just walk in a shop and walk out again with a contract phone after 15 minutes. Expect to wait at least a week in many cases!
Different monthly options are available from each operator. Standard plans have minimum monthly spends. Example; If your plan is €6 euros a month, you can use up to €6 euros of calls and pay no more.
We can recommend Amena for coverage and service, you can access their website in English by clicking here.
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