Home internet options in Spain from fibre to satellite

Key rules

• Default choice: If fibre reaches your address, choose it over every other type.
• Promotional prices: Introductory prices often rise after 6-12 months, so note the end date.
• Gaps in coverage: Rural homes without fibre can use fixed wireless or satellite, which cost more or have limits.

Fibre is the default, so start there

Most homes in Spain can get fibre to the home (FTTH). Coverage is among the highest in the EU, at roughly 93-95% of homes. Cities are well covered. Rural areas have less coverage.

If fibre reaches your address, choose it. Only look at other types if it does not.

The connection types compared

• Fibre (FTTH): Speeds of 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps or more, the same up and down. This is the standard choice.
• Cable (HFC): Hundreds of Mbps. It exists in parts of the country, mainly from older Vodafone/Ono, Euskaltel and R networks. It is being phased out in favour of fibre.
• ADSL: Slow, up to about 20 Mbps. Telefónica is retiring it, and it survives only in a few places. Avoid it if you have any other choice.
• Fixed wireless: A radio link or a 4G/5G home router. It gives about 30-300+ Mbps. It suits rural areas, but delay (latency) varies and some plans have data caps.
• Mobile 4G/5G: Good as a backup or a stopgap while you wait for fibre. Data limits apply.
• Satellite: Works anywhere with a clear view of the sky, at about 50-250 Mbps. Latency is higher and the price is higher. Use it when nothing else is available.

What fibre costs

• Fibre only, 300-600 Mbps: About 10-25 euros a month from low-cost brands such as Digi, O2, Finetwork, Lowi, Pepephone and Yoigo. Digi is usually the cheapest, at about 10-15 euros.
• Fibre plus one mobile line: Typically about 30-60 euros a month from MásMóvil/Yoigo, Orange, Movistar, Vodafone and O2. Movistar and Vodafone are at the top of that range.
• Gigabit speed: About 5-15 euros more.

Most people do not need gigabit. 300-600 Mbps is plenty for streaming and video calls.

Watch the promotional price

Promotional prices often rise after 6-12 months. Note the date the offer ends and what the full price will be. When it ends, compare plans again. The timeline below covers this.

Who owns the network

Several brands often run on the same cables, so two brands can give you the same line at different prices.

• Telefónica/Movistar has the largest network and rents it to other operators. O2 is its second brand.
• Orange and MásMóvil are now MasOrange. It also owns Yoigo, Pepephone, Simyo, Jazztel and Amena. These brands have their own fibre in places and use rented lines elsewhere.
• Vodafone has its own fibre, and Lowi belongs to Vodafone.
• Digi builds its own network and also rents others.
• Small regional operators such as Adamo, Avatel and Euskaltel/Virgin have their own networks.

Cheaper brands can give the same line quality as the big names. Compare price, contract length and the price after the promotion.

How to choose

1. Enter your exact address on two or three operators' websites to see which technologies reach it.
2. If fibre is available, compare a fibre-only plan with a fibre-plus-mobile plan.
3. If fibre is not available, try fixed wireless first, then satellite.
4. Use mobile data as a stopgap only.

Questions about landlines, routers and TV are answered in the quick answers below.

Timeline and deadlines

Promotional prices over time

• Compare fibre-only and fibre-plus-mobile plans: Before you sign. Fibre-only plans of 300-600 Mbps cost about 10-25 euros a month, and fibre plus one mobile line about 30-60 euros a month.

• Review your plan when the promotion ends: After 6-12 months. Compare your new price with other offers and decide whether to stay or switch.

Quick answers on home internet and TV

Do I need a landline to get fibre in Spain?

No, you do not need a landline number to get fibre in Spain, because fibre comes through a box on your wall and a router. Most operators sell data-only fibre plans. If a bundle includes a home phone number, you can simply ignore it.

Do I need to pay a TV licence in Spain?

No, Spain has no TV licence or licence fee for households. You only pay for any pay TV or streaming service you choose to subscribe to.

Do I own the router the operator gives me?

No, the router and the ONT (the fibre box on your wall) normally stay the operator's property and are lent to you for the length of the contract. Return them when you cancel, by courier or at a shop, or you may be billed for them. Some operators let you buy the router.

Can I use my own router with a fibre contract?

Yes, you can use your own router, as long as it supports VLAN tagging and you enter the connection login details from your operator. The operator may refuse to support it, and Movistar TV and some bundles still need the operator's router. Ask your operator for the settings before you switch.