Telephone

Nationalised by Franco in 1945, Telefonica de España was the classic Mediterranean monopoly.

The winds of change came in the 1990s, when EU-led plans to liberalise Spain’s telecoms spurred the newly privatised giant into action, sinking huge sums into infrastructure in the run-up to the 1998 deregulation.

A decade on, competitors fill the field, but Telefonica still covers over three-quarters of the Spanish fixed-line market.

The less-than-thriving competition is in part due to the 90s assumption that faster internet would need new fibre-optic networks to challenge the old monopoly.

However, when ADSL came along, Telefonica realised it could just use its own existing network, dissuading any investment in alternatives.

Telefonica’s complacency in the marketplace is reflected in its hefty set-up charges and fees but the mobile market has been challenged by the arrival of big UK firms Orange and Vodafone.

Mobile Service Providers
Movistar (Telefonica) 1485 www.movistar.es
Orange    90 201 22 40 www.orange.es
Vodafone 60 712 30 00 www.vodafone.es
Yoigo 80 062 28 00 www.yoigo.com

Landlines

Installing a phone line can only be done through Telefonica. Call 1004 for Telefonica customer services (English-speakers available).

The fee for call-out, installation of a socket, and provision of number, cabling and telephone itself is around EUR 112. This includes the set-up fee. Look out for occasional promotions waiving or reducing this fee.

If you wish to set up an account (darse de alta) with Telefonica themselves, you will have to pay EUR 112, regardless of whether or not you have a line already installed.

You will still have to pay this even if you wish to switch to Telefonica from a competitor (though there is a reduced rate if you were a Telefonica client less than a year before).

Different landlines packages

You then have to choose a package. Most opt for the Línea Basica, which covers line rental (maintenance and repairs), the phone itself, voicemail and call waiting. Línea Basica costs around EUR 17 a month, excluding of course, the actual calls you make. Tariffs for these calls can be seen on Telefonica’s web site.

Economy rates start from 22:00 while peak times are from early to mid-afternoon.

Inertia probably plays a role in Telefonica’s Linea Basica’s continuing hegemony. If you take the time to shop around the competition, there are much better stand-alone telephone deals.

Phone & Internet Packages

Telefonica’s rivals such as Orange, Jazztel and others offer internet deals along with their fixed line services.

Telephone Companies
Jazztel    1565    www.jazztel.com
Orange    90 201 22 40    www.orange.es
Tele2    80 076 07 70    www.tele2.es
Telefonica    1004    www.telefonicaonline.com
Ya.com     90 290 36 33    www.acceso.ya.com

Cheap Overseas Calls

One of the cheapest ways to make an international call is by using a calling card. These can be purchased in local newsagents, tobacconists and internet cafes, normally in dominations of EUR 5.

They will include a local number which you dial (and are normally charged for) and instructions to follow. Have a look around when shopping for calling cards however, as some brands will offer cheaper rates to particular countries.

Most internet cafes and small local shops carry these cards, with posters on display that list the number of minutes a EUR 5 call will get you to your chosen country.

Another good alternative is using Skype (www.skype.com), a software program which allows you to make cheap calls from computer to computer. If the recipient of the call is also a Skype subscriber, your conversation is free.

Calling landlines is also possible, and there will be some charge, but this is still considerably reduced.

Hello Mum

Another increasingly popular option, particularly among UK expats, is the internet phone service offered by British supermarket chain Tesco. With a broadband connection, calls between Tesco internet phone account holders anywhere in the world are free. See www.tesco.com/internetphone for more.

12 May 2009



Reprinted with permission of Explorer Publishing from the Barcelona Complete Residents' Guide on May 2009.

Photo credit: Andres Rueda