Internet and Mobile Providers in Spain: Fibre, SIMs and Contracts

Home fibre and mobile in Spain come from four network groups: Movistar, Vodafone, MasOrange (Orange, Jazztel, Yoigo, MásMóvil and other brands) and Digi. To sign up you need an ID (NIE, or a passport where the operator accepts it) and a Spanish IBAN. By law, consumer contracts cannot bind you for more than 24 months, and a number transfer must be activated within one working day, as of November 2026.

Which companies sell fibre and mobile in Spain?

Most brands you see in shops and online ads belong to a handful of groups. The group matters because it usually decides which network your line runs on and how support works.

Prices change constantly and most offers are promotions, so compare current tariffs on the operators’ own pages rather than rankings. Check three things for any offer: the price after the promotion ends, the commitment period (permanencia) and whether a router or phone is included.

What do you need to sign up?

• Identity document. Spanish operators register the identity of every customer. Contracts are usually linked to a DNI or NIE; some operators accept a passport, especially for prepaid lines. Check the sign-up form before you go to a shop.
• Spanish IBAN for monthly direct debit. Some brands accept foreign SEPA accounts, many do not. See opening a bank account as a foreigner.
• Installation address for fibre, with the exact flat and door. Coverage is checked by address before the sale.
• Email and Spanish phone number for the contract and the installer’s call.

For fibre, a technician installs the optical termination and router. If the building already has fibre from the same network, it can be quick; if not, the operator first needs access to the building’s shared installation. Ask the landlord before signing if you rent, and keep the router: it must normally be returned when you cancel.

How does the permanencia work?

The permanencia is a minimum stay you accept in exchange for something: a discounted phone, free installation or a lower monthly price. Spain’s telecoms law, Ley 11/2022, General de Telecomunicaciones, says contracts between consumers and operators cannot run for more than 24 months.

If you leave early, the operator can charge the early-exit fee stated in your contract, typically linked to the value of the discount or device you received. Before signing, find that clause and the amount. If you plan to stay less than a year or two, a tariff without permanencia is often the safer choice even at a slightly higher monthly price.

Online and phone sales are distance contracts, so EU consumer rules give you a 14-day period to withdraw. Your lease and your fibre line run on separate clocks. If the lease is short, match the fibre commitment to it; our guide to Spanish rental contracts covers lease lengths and leaving early.

Can you keep your phone number when you switch?

Yes. Number portability is a legal right for fixed and mobile numbers. Under the same law:

1. You request the switch from the new operator, which handles the whole process.
2. The number must be active with the new operator within one working day of the date you agree.
3. Any loss of service during the switch cannot exceed one working day.
4. Your contract with the old operator ends automatically when the switch completes.
5. After you cancel a contract, you keep the right to port the number for at least one month.

Prepaid customers can ask the old operator to refund unused credit. The law allows a fee for that only if the contract says so.

How do prepaid SIM cards work?

Prepaid (prepago) SIMs are sold in operator shops, kiosks and some supermarkets. Spanish law requires operators to keep a register of the identity of everyone who buys a prepaid card, so you must show an ID document when you buy and activate one, and the seller records it. A SIM that someone else registered in their name is not a substitute; the line is legally theirs.

If you are only staying a short time, an eSIM bought online can work, provided the operator verifies your identity during activation. EU visitors can also keep using their home SIM under EU roaming rules.

Where do you complain about a telecoms operator?

1. Complain to the operator first and keep the complaint reference number.
2. If it does not solve the problem, or you disagree with the answer, go to the Ministry for Digital Transformation’s telecom users’ office (Oficina de Atención al Usuario de Telecomunicaciones).
3. In Catalonia you can also ask for help from a municipal consumer office (OMIC) or the Agència Catalana del Consum.

Bottom line

Read the tariff’s price after the promotion and the permanencia clause before anything else, and ask whether the building already has fibre from that network. If your stay may be short, a no-commitment tariff and a portable mobile number cost little more and leave you free to move.

FAQ

Can I get fibre with only a passport?

Some operators accept a passport and others ask for an NIE. Check the identity options on the operator’s sign-up page or ask in the shop before booking the installation.

How long does fibre installation take?

It depends on the building and the network. The operator gives you an installation appointment after checking coverage at your address.

Do I pay to keep my number?

Porting is requested through the new operator, and the switch must be active within one working day of the agreed date. Ask the new operator whether it charges anything for the process.

Can my old operator stop me from leaving?

No. It can only charge the early-exit fee written in your contract if you are still inside the permanencia.