Business · Companies · 12 hrs ago
Telefónica to stop providing Spain’s universal telecoms service in 2027
Spain’s competition regulator has backed a plan to end Telefónica’s exclusive duty to provide the universal telecoms service from 1 January 2027.
The company has held that role since 1998, covering basic fixed-phone and broadband access.
The government says these services are now widely available through commercial networks, including fibre, mobile and satellite connections.
The change means coverage requests in hard-to-reach areas will be shared among operators with networks in each area, rather than assigned to Telefónica alone.
Spain’s minimum guaranteed broadband speed will rise from 10 Mbps to 100 Mbps download and 5 Mbps upload.
The regulator says the change reflects broader network coverage and the reduced cost of providing service in remote areas.
The new arrangements are due to take effect on 1 January 2027.
Telefónica de España will stop being Spain’s designated universal telecoms service provider on 1 January 2027.
The change ends an obligation imposed exclusively on the company since 1998.
Spain’s telecoms regulator, the CNMC, issued a favourable report on the proposal.
The government says widespread fixed broadband and phone services make a single required provider unnecessary.
The reform raises the minimum guaranteed broadband speed to 100 Mbps downstream and 5 Mbps upstream.
- Who
- Telefónica de España, currently Spain’s designated universal telecoms service provider.
- What
- It will no longer have the exclusive obligation to provide the service.
- When
- From 1 January 2027.
- Where
- Spain.
- Why
- The government says market offerings and existing networks provide broad access to fixed telephony and broadband.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Telefónica was made the sole company obliged to provide the universal telecoms service.
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service began the regulatory process.
The CNMC published a favourable report on the government proposal.
Telefónica is due to stop being the designated provider.
- End date
- 1 January 2027
- Regulator
- National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC)
- Exclusive obligation began
- 1998
- Minimum download speed
- 100 Mbps
- Minimum upload speed
- 5 Mbps