Looking to make Cheap Calls to the UK and around the world from Spain? We’ve got the solution! Find out more.
Due to the number of questions that we get regarding landline services in Spain we have written the following guide on how to get connected and stay in-touch.
Like BT, Telefonica once monopolised the Spanish market. However recent deregulation has meant that several private companies (Jazztel, Auna, Tele2) can offer you line rental as well as connection services. Although at present other providers only really operate in the major Spanish cities and as a consequence this means that Telefonica is the only choice for most expats.
If you wish to have a landline telephone in Spain you must visit Telefonica. Telefónica has a commercial office (Oficina Comercial) or a client service office (Oficina de Atención al Usuario) in each Spanish province.
Landline Installation
If you are lucky enough, your property will already have a landline installed. To get the line activated and registered in your name you must contact Telefonica. You will be asked for Proof of your address (a recent electricity bill, copy of your property deed (Escritura) or rental contract) and some form of identification (passport or a residence permit – residencia) and proof of address (Utility Bill).
It costs €59 to register a telephone line plus technician fees (if necessary to install a new line) this might be costly depending on how far you are from the nearest junction point so get an estimate first.
Please Note: Spain uses standard AT&T RJ-11 connectors for its phone system, and so if using a British telephone, you will either need to change the cable or use a BT431A to RJ-11 adapter, available from UK computer shops or Spanish supermarkets. Because the UK phone system uses a third wire to trigger ringing, a BT master socket to RJ11 plug adapter will be required for telephones, faxes or inbound modem use.
Ongoing costs
The minimum monthly line rental with Telefonica is around €15.68 per month, however the major cost is obviously for the calls you make.
This is where you can make significant savings. As with BT in the UK, Telefonica does not offer the best value tariffs and savings of 90% can be found by using another company to route your calls. Therefore we would recommend that you keep your Telefonica contract to the basic rate of €15.68 per month and use another company for your calls.
These companies are called Carrier Pre-Select (CPS) providers. Basically they route your calls down an alternative channel to Telefonica, saving you a small fortune.
You can also keep your Spanish telephone number and you do not need to sign a binding contract, since all you pay for is the call time that you use.
Hidden Costs
Watch out! Several CPS companies may have very low headline rates but this is off-set by several hidden charges:
- A call set up charge, which will apply even as soon as the call connects. If the call is for a few seconds – say when you are told the person you want to speak with is not there you will be charged anything from 5 to 20 cents depending on the type of call.
- A minimum call charge, which will apply even if the call is for a few seconds – say when you are told the person you want to speak with is not there.
- Rounding up of call time, where the rounding is set to purposely inflate the cost of the call. Many companies charge per minute, which means that if you speak for 1 minute and 5 seconds you will be charged for two full minutes.
- Rounding up of call charges, which means that you can be charged on the basis of costs being rounded up to the nearest cent. Over a month this can add a considerable additional cost to your bill.
Recommended Supplier
Over the past year we have received numerous requests for a phone service that will allow residents in Spain to make cheap international calls from a landline. Therefore we decided to create our own direct dial service. For further information please click here.