Mobile / Cell Phones in Spain

Information on mobile and cell phones in Spain, contract and pay-as-you-go phones and an overview of mobile phone service providers, including Movistar, Vodafone and Orange.

One of the first things to do when you arrive in Spain is get a mobile/cell phone. (In North America: cell or cell phones; in Europe and Spain: mobile phones. The same thing.) Almost everyone has at least one mobile phone in Spain and sending SMS text messages is extremely popular, as there are no periods of free calling on weekends or evenings available with any of the Spanish providers. So, just to communicate with your friends, texting can be a necessary skill to develop – how dextrous are your fingers?

You can also pay for a variety of services by sending an SMS text message to a vendor (wireless hotspots, contests, voting, etc.) that charges your phone account. It’s convenient and can save you from racking up credit card charges and providing those sensitive numbers. You’ll see the option available when paying for something or on advertising posters everywhere. 

Unlike North America, but similar to the UK, whoever makes the call will pay the charges, whether that’s to or from a landline or mobile/cell phone – the receiving phone is not charged. But when you do make a phone call, you generally pay for the call connection (establecimiento de llamada) and the time you spend talking on the phone. This rate (tarifa) is generally quoted either per minute or per second, but all call time is charged per second. Most rates don’t include IVA (VAT tax), which is charged at 16%.

You’ll likely not be able to use a North American cell phone in Spain unless it’s GSM/GPRS compatible (AT&T and T-Mobile cell phones, for example) with a SIM card. This is the system in use here. If you’re bringing a mobile phone from the UK then you’ll be better off, as the systems here are compatible. In either case you’ll VERY likely need to have it unlocked. This means taking your mobile or cell phone to one of the smaller mobile/cell phone shops in Spain that offer this service (about €20, look for “se libran móviles”) where they remove whatever it is that made your mobile or cell phone work exclusively on your previous provider’s network.

Contract and Pay-As-You-Go Phones

If you’re buying a mobile or cell phone in Spain, consider whether you would be better off with a contract or pay-as-you-go phone. When you sign a contract, you’ll have a monthly bill to pay, but you can often get cheaper rates and a free or cheap mobile phone. This is similar to most countries. However, you’ll need to have a NIE to sign a contract.

Even with generally higher rates, if you don’t make many calls or send many text messages in any given month, a pay-as-you-go phone may end up being cheaper. As you would expect, you only pay for what you use.

You can “recharge” (recargar in Spanish) your pay-as-you-go phone with more credit (saldo) at grocery stores, tobacco shops, phone stores, bank machines and with online banking.

Mobile Phone Service Providers

Mobile/cell phone service providers (operadores) in Spain can be divided into two categories: those with their own networks and virtual providers who depend on others’ networks to provide their services. In general, call quality, coverage and customer service vary little across the spectrum. 

Movistar (Telefónica), Vodafone, Orange (formerly Amena) and Yoigo are the four mobile phone service providers in Spain with their own network. Of these, Movistar is the oldest and most established and Yoigo the newest.

I’ve experienced and heard mixed things about each of them, generally as follows:

• Movistar (Telefónica): Decent rates once you’ve signed onto specific plans that accommodate your calling schedules. Their coverage is the best in Spain and they have partnered with many international providers to allow easy access to voicemail, etc. while you’re traveling.
• Orange: You’ll often find great, cheap offers on both phones and calling plans that can get you down to 3 cents/minute in some cases! Very spotty coverage in the rural areas though.
• Vodafone: If you travel around Europe then this is probably your best bet since they’re from the UK and offer cell/mobile phone service throughout the continent. You’ll get cheaper roaming charges and they generally offer reasonable rates across the board. Their coverage is quite decent as well.

Virtual mobile phone service providers are relatively new in Spain. These providers are able to fix their rates independently of the networks they use, and in many cases offer lower rates or other incentives, such as free call connections. These providers include: Eroski Móvil, Euskaltel, PepePhone, Lebara, Carrefour Móvil and Happy Móvil. Expect to see the next crop of virtual providers on the market any day now.

Any of the mobile phone service providers in Spain may offer things such as free voicemail, credit advances for pay-as-you-go phones or other services and features, or have promotions offering free call credit, free text messages, free phones or new low rates. To get the best deal on mobile phone service in Spain, be sure to shop around with the different providers for the latest promotions and features – they change fairly often.

Once you choose a provider, and depending on your calling needs, you can sign up for plans that have cheaper calling rates during certain times of the day, to certain countries, etc. Be sure to note that your provider may have different calling rates depending on which provider the person you’re calling has.

Many of the mobile phone service providers in Spain offer customer service in English, including Movistar, Vodafone and Eroski Móvil. You may have to wait a few minutes before you’re put through to an English speaking agent though.

Buying Your Cell/Mobile Phone

You’ll be able to buy a cell/mobile phone in Spain through either the providers’ specific dealer networks, independent electronics stores or department stores like El Corte Inglés. Smaller cell/mobile phone stores are everywhere in Spain, and you can find particularly good deals on phones at the sketchier mobile phone stores often operated by immigrants. In these places you’ll probably save between €10-50 on a new phone. I’d be wary about any “used” phones offered however.

Generally, the prices for new mobile phones in Spain start at €20 for the cheapest models and up to €500 for the latest models with all the bells and whistles you’d expect. 

Last updated 22 01 2008

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