Home > Phone & Internet

Phone and Internet

Telephone and internet access

The main problem with internet access in Spain is that it usually takes at least a month to get a connection and the speed of the service is not great. If you move into a new flat in August you can more or less forget about getting anything connected by the main telephone companies until September – everyone is on holiday in August!

I chose Telefónica for my phone and ADSL, but there are other providers. I was told that the connection would take between 10 - 20 days. The phone took 26 days to be connected and the ADSL another 15 days after that (it was August). You can phone Telefónica for free from a land line or payphone and get connected to an English speaker.
Telefónica's website in English is also helpful.

Telefónica sell you a router or modem which is sent to you in the post. If you have a Mac make sure you specify this, as not all of the routers work with Macs.

Orange also offer ADSL, and you can use their service as soon as you have a phone line. You can order a modem or router from Orange on the internet, as long as you have a Spanish bank account. You can also buy the router or modem over the counter at certain shops – the department store El Corte de Inglés in Placa Catalunya is one of them (www.elcorteingles.es).

Mobile Internet in Spain

However, there are now a couple of new options available with mobile internet. Both Orange and Vodafone now offer mobile internet through their network. You need to purchase a USB mini router which plugs into your computer and service is available as soon as your contract is activated. Obviously the quality of the line is dependent on the reception in your area, but it's possible to check this before you purchase.

At the time of writing, Orange require you to sign an 18 month contract, but Vodafone have a pre-pay service where you can purchase a USB router for €79 and then recharge your service every month without the need to sign a contract. So, with this service you could get an internet connection almost immediately (subject to coverage in your area) and wait for a permanent landline connection if that's what you prefer for the long term.

Vodafone Pack Prepago

Orange – Internet Everywhere

Lexatel Broadband Internet

Lexatel is a company offering an innovative new internet connection based on a microwave signal. The signal is broadcast from the communications tower of Collserola and as long as you can see the tower from your flat you can have the service installed. Lexatel are currently working on installing other boosters within the city so that more people will be able to receive the signal. Lexatel are independent operators and do not rely on the Spanish telecommunications system - they have developed and built their own system.

This is a service that I think will mostly suit businesses, it's not the cheapest on the market but they 100% guarantee their service at the speeds that they advertise. There is an installation fee but if you sign a three year contract this is not charged and if you sign a two year contract the fee in halved. The best news is that installation is guaranteed within 24 hours.

There are three levels of service, and you can change your level of service and the price you pay as you require, so it's very flexible. If you move, Lexatel will help and move the installed equipment for you (as long as you move to somewhere where there is coverage for their signal).

Visit their website for more information on Lexatel Broadband Internet.

Cheaper options for telephoning

Rather than using coins in the public phones it’s often easier to buy a phone card (una tarjeta para llamar por teléfono) for either €6 or €12 from one of the Tabac shops or from most newspaper stands.

The cheapest way to phone, nationally and abroad, is to use one of the many private telephone booth shops (internet cafés often offer this service too). You make your phone call and pay cash when you're finished.

VOIP

VOIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol) has to be the cheapest option for international phone calls, so if you're intending to be in Barcelona or Spain for some time, get yourself an ADSL/Broadband connection and see my page on VOiP providers.

Expat-telecom

Expat Telecom offers a pre-paid calling service, which can be used anywhere in the world from a standard telephone. You just have to sign up online: Expat Telecom, the perfect callback phone service for all expatriates living abroad

Internet cafés

There are many internet cafés, especially in the centre of the city. However, a lot of them don’t let you send or receive attachments. If you just want to check your email and reply, they are fine. The main Tourist Information Centre in Placa de Catalunya has a map listing all the central internet cafés, I've also listed them here:

Free wifi internet access at libraries

A lot of the libraries in Barcelona provide free wireless internet access to library members. It's relatively easy to join your nearest library, so it's worth doing, even if it's just a backup plan for when your internet access at home goes down (it happens).

To join the library you need to show your passport and give your name, address, phone number and email address. You will then be issued with a library card. I've used my local library in Gràcia and connected easily to their wifi network. You have to enter two numbers in order to log on to their system; these are your passport number and the number on your library card.

Once you have joined your local library you have access to all libraries in Barcelona. ◊

Let me know what you think about this page. Please rate it! Thanks.

Internet Providers

Telefónica
Ya.com
Orange
Ono

Mobile Internet

Orange – Internet Everywhere

Vodafone Pack Prepago