Business · Companies · 12 hrs ago
Orange provisionally awarded 70% of Spain’s rural 5G grants
Spain has provisionally allocated most rural 5G grants to Orange, with Telefónica receiving the rest.
The proposed awards are €12.24 million for Orange and €5.21 million for Telefónica, from €17.45 million in total.
The government programme funds equipment and supporting infrastructure in small communities without 4G or 5G coverage and no planned commercial rollout in the next three years.
The proposed projects cover 129 technical sites and 358 eligible areas across Spain.
The applications described projects costing €26.09 million, more than the €17.45 million in proposed grants, so public funding would not cover all projected costs.
The funding budget is €17.9 million and comes mostly from the European Regional Development Fund.
The awards are not yet final: the companies have ten working days after official notification to respond, after which the proposals can become definitive if no objections are filed.
Orange has been provisionally allocated 70.14% of Spain’s first grants for 5G networks in very rural areas.
The proposed allocation gives Orange €12.24 million and Telefónica Móviles España €5.21 million.
The grants cover projects at 129 technical sites across 358 eligible areas.
The programme supports 5G infrastructure in low-population municipalities without existing 4G or 5G coverage or planned commercial deployment in the next three years.
The proposal is provisional, and the companies may submit comments, accept the grants or withdraw.
- Who
- Orange España and Telefónica Móviles España are the two companies proposed to receive grants.
- What
- Spain has provisionally allocated €17.45 million in grants for rural 5G projects. Orange is proposed to receive 70.14% of the total.
- When
- The provisional resolution was made public on 23 October 2026.
- Where
- Eligible low-population municipalities across Spain.
- Why
- The programme funds 5G equipment and supporting infrastructure in areas without 4G or 5G service from any operator and without commercial deployment plans for the next three years.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Spain’s Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service published the provisional grant resolution.
Applicants have 10 working days to submit comments, accept the proposed grant or withdraw.
If no objections are submitted, the proposal will automatically be elevated to a final resolution.
- Orange proposed grant
- €12.24 million
- Telefónica proposed grant
- €5.21 million
- Total proposed grants
- €17.45 million
- Projects covered
- 129 technical sites and 358 eligible areas
- Programme budget
- €17.9 million