Telefonica activates voice over 5G calls nationwide
SPAIN 19 DEC

Telefonica activates voice over 5G calls nationwide

Telefonica has officially launched Voice over New Radio (VoNR) technology on its 5G standalone (SA) network in Spain, claiming to be the first operator to do so nationwide. The operator said VoNR delivers substantially improved voice quality with greater clarity and stability while allowing users to make calls alongside data-intensive activities such as high-definition video streaming and cloud gaming.

Carro named Samsung Iberia D2C chief
SPAIN 19 DEC

Carro named Samsung Iberia D2C chief

Samsung Electronics Iberia has announced the appointment of David Carro as the new Head of Division for Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) online sales in Spain and Portugal. He has been tasked with strengthening Samsung's D2C strategy in the region, focusing on operational excellence and the evolution of customer relationship models.

Digi Spain rules out price hikes in 2026
SPAIN 19 DEC

Digi Spain rules out price hikes in 2026

The Digi Spain subsidiary of Romania's Digi Communications Group has once more announced that it will not raise the current price of any its products and services in 2026, unlike rivals including Telefonica, MasOrange and Vodafone, who have blamed the rising costs of pay-TV content and services for upcoming January price hikes.

Telefonica confirms plans to delist shares from NYSE
SPAIN 18 DEC

Telefonica confirms plans to delist shares from NYSE

Telefonica said it intends to delist its American Depositary Shares (ADS) from the New York Stock Exchange after nearly 40 years of trading, confirming earlier reports. The decision to voluntarily delist from the NYSE and deregister with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) responds to the 2026-30 "Transform & Grow" strategic plan presented last month, which seeks to simplify the group's operating model and structure to generate a gross impact of up to EUR 3 billion in savings by 2030.

Microsoft, Iberdrola ink Spanish energy and AI deal
SPAIN 18 DEC

Microsoft, Iberdrola ink Spanish energy and AI deal

Microsoft has signed two new power purchase agreements (PPAs) with Spanish energy giant Iberdrola totalling 150 MW of electricity from the latter's Iglesias wind farm in Burgos and El Escudo wind farm in Cantabria. The new deals add to three PPAs already signed between Microsoft and Iberdrola's US subsidiary Avangrid covering solar and wind projects in Ohio, California and Washington, bringing the total contracted renewables capacity to around 500 MW.

Telefonica offers free access to premium TV channels over festive period
SPAIN 18 DEC

Telefonica offers free access to premium TV channels over festive period

Telefonica Spain has launched a new festive offer to promote its premium TV channels, gifting access to several over the festive season. All Movistar Plus+ subscribers will automatically receive free access to a selection of channels from the company's premium packs, including sports, movie and series channels.

Telefonica tops 17 mln IoT lines after surge in car beacon sales
SPAIN 18 DEC

Telefonica tops 17 mln IoT lines after surge in car beacon sales

Telefonica said it has consolidated its lead in Spain's IoT market, reaching 17 million lines at the end of November due above all to surging sales of connected beacons for drivers. The figure is some 240 percent higher than the year-earlier result and over 2.5 million more than rival Vodafone's total of 14.5 million.

Orange Spain to air 2026 Spanish Super Cup at no extra cost
SPAIN 18 DEC

Orange Spain to air 2026 Spanish Super Cup at no extra cost

Orange Spain said it has reached a deal to broadcast the forthcoming Spanish Super Cup competition live from Riyadh (Saudi Arabia) at no extra cost to all TV subscribers. The four-team tournament will be available from 07 to 11 January to Orange TV customers with football included in their plans and those subscribed to the Orange TV Libre service.

Spain consults on 2G and 3G network shutdown
SPAIN 18 DEC

Spain consults on 2G and 3G network shutdown

Spain's Ministry for Digital Transformation and Public Administration has announced the launch of a public consultation on the future shutdown of 2G and 3G networks to free up space for 4G, 5G and future 6G technologies. The aim is to gather information and proposals from operators, administrations and other affected stakeholders with a view to carrying out an orderly transition and defining aspects such as shutdown schedules by operator and technology.

Vodafone Spain extends free US roaming to all unlimited data plans
SPAIN 18 DEC

Vodafone Spain extends free US roaming to all unlimited data plans

Vodafone Spain (Zegona) has changed the conditions relating to free roaming outside of the European Economic Area so that anyone subscribed to a plan with unlimited data will now have free US roaming included until at least 30 June 2026. The perk is also available to prepaid plans and all mobile and convergent plans costing at least EUR 25 a month.

Azcue replaces Abasolo as Telefonica's director of finance
SPAIN 18 DEC

Azcue replaces Abasolo as Telefonica's director of finance

Telefonica has announced the appointment of Juan Azcue as its new Chief Financial & Corporate Development Officer, replacing Laura Abasolo, who will leave the group at the end of this month after several years in the post. The company has also named Ernesto Gardelliano as its new Chief Strategy & Control Officer and member of the Executive Committee.

Telefonica cuts collective dismissal proposal to a maximum of 4,554 jobs
SPAIN 17 DEC

Telefonica cuts collective dismissal proposal to a maximum of 4,554 jobs

Telefonica has substantially reduced the maximum number of employees included in its latest collective dismissal process (ERE) in Spain to 4,554, around 25 percent or 1,534 fewer than the 6,088 initially planned, reports Europa Press. After at least seven rounds of talks with trade union representatives, the company has agreed that there will be no forced lay-offs if the number of voluntary redundancies reaches 3,765.

SPAIN 17 DEC

Red.es to host 49 SMEs at MWC Barcelona's Spanish Pavilion

Spain's ICT development agency Red.es will be showcasing the digital projects of a total of 49 companies in the Spanish Pavilion at MWC Barcelona from 02 to 05 March 2026, including 19 from the Madrid region and 10 from Catalonia. The companies will have individual stands to demonstrate their innovations in sectors such as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, robotics, and all types of software and hardware.

SPAIN 17 DEC

MasOrange using Future Connections energy-saving rApp on mobile network

Managed telecom services provider Future Connections said it has deployed its NIx RAN Energy Saver rApp (RAN automation application) on MasOrange's mobile network in Spain as part of the operator's adoption of Ericsson's Intelligent Automation Platform (EIAP). The move aims to boost network energy efficiency and sustainability while strengthening automation and performance management on MasOrange's 5G Open RAN infrastructure.

SPAIN 17 DEC

Avatel takes over Catalan operator Parlem

Spanish rural telecommunications provider Avatel has agreed to acquire 50.01 percent of the shares of Catalan MVNO Parlem in exchange for the former's business in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and the Levante region. The deal, which confirms earlier reports, was completed through a share swap valued at EUR 42.2 million, said Parlem, adding that it expects annual revenues to rise by EUR 20 million to EUR 70 million by 2026 as a result of anticipated synergies.

SPAIN 16 DEC

Telefonica cuts price of standalone fibre plan to under EUR 20/mth for a year

Telefonica Spain has followed its O2 brand by reducing the price of its entry-level standalone fibre plan for 12 months in response to offers from rivals including Digi. Under the promo, customers who sign up online to the plan will pay EUR 19.90 a month for 12 months, rising to EUR 30 a month thereafter.

SPAIN 16 DEC

Nostrum to develop 500 MW of data centre assets across Spain by 2027

Spain-based data centre developer Nostrum Data Centers has announced plans to develop over 500 MW of sustainable IT capacity by 2027 to address skyrocketing demand for AI and cloud services. The company's six data centre developments will be strategically located throughout Spain to take advantage of existing subsea connectivity, energy infrastructure and competitive power costs.

SPAIN 16 DEC

R and MasOrange bring 5G to over 95% of Galician small towns

MasOrange announced that it has connected more than 95 percent of the 250 localities with less than 10,000 inhabitants in the northwestern Galicia region to its 5G network under the EUR 70 million EU-backed Unico 5G Redes Activas investment plan launched earlier this year. Operating through its regional R brand, MasOrange said over 80 percent of the corresponding infrastructure has been built and that it expects to complete the coverage in all the municipalities included in the plan by the end of next year.

SPAIN 16 DEC

Telefonica to charge operators up to 5 years' rent for illegal infrastructure occupation

Spain's communications regulator CNMC has further tightened the rules to prevent irregular occupation of Telefonica's physical fibre infrastructure, allowing the former incumbent to charge offending operators up to five years' rent on a retroactive basis. The new procedures to ensure the so-called MARCo wholesale access offer continues performing adequately have been approved after Telefonica reported some 1,500 cases of illegal occupation.

SPAIN 15 DEC

Vodafone Spain awarded Xoople connectivity contract

Vodafone Spain (Zegona) said its B2B unit Vodafone Empresas has been awarded a contract to develop the communications infrastructure and advanced technology for the new HQ of Spanish AI firm Xoople in Tres Cantos, Madrid. The project will equip Xoople's headquarters and satellite control centres with high-performance connectivity and integrated digital systems, including fixed and mobile 5G networks, network equipment (switches, racks, Wi-Fi access points, firewalls) and security architecture.

SPAIN 15 DEC

Martinez and Del Mazo join Vodafone Spain's B2B unit

Vodafone Spain (Zegona) has announced two new appointments to boost its B2B unit Vodafone Empresas. The company said José Antonio Martínez has been named Director of Strategic Accounts with Pedro del Mazo taking over as Enterprise Pre-Sales Director, with a view to strengthening the technical capabilities of its teams and consolidating its large customer segment.

SPAIN 15 DEC

Yoigo increases convergent prices, adds data

MasOrange's Yoigo brand has followed several of its rivals in applying price hikes of up to EUR 2 a month to its convergent plans in exchange for more data. The increase will only affect new subscribers or existing customers who change plans.

SPAIN 15 DEC

Telefonica leads 5G coverage with over 8,000 nodes in 3.5 GHz band

Telefonica has consolidated its lead in the rollout of 5G+ networks in Spain, reaching over 8,000 active nodes in the fastest 3.5 GHz band at the end of the second quarter, according to CNMC data cited by Expansion. The former incumbent has added 6,455 nodes in the space of two years, reaching 8,007 at the end of June, ahead of rivals MasOrange with 4,647 nodes and Vodafone with 2,331.

SPAIN 15 DEC

Orange inks binding deal to acquire full control of MasOrange

France's Orange group has reached a binding deal to acquire full ownership of the 50 percent stake it did not already own in its Spanish operator MasOrange for EUR 4.25 billion in cash. The agreement with the Lorca consortium made up of investment firms KKR, Cinven and Providence comes just over a month after the non-binding pact was announced and more than three years after Orange Spain and Masmovil agreed a 50-50 merger to create MasOrange, the country's largest operator in terms of customers.

Just In

19 DEC 16:42

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19 DEC 16:19

Dialog Axiata launches 5G network, connects 1.5 million subscribers

19 DEC 15:56

UK govt to ban AI-enabled nudification apps to protect women, girls

19 DEC 15:42

3 UK launches last-minute Christmas sale

Commentary

13:56

Video market set for slower growth ahead

11:38

Netflix buys Warner Bros to deepen content catalogue

11:11

KPN's mixed performance in Q3 raises questions for strategy day

15:26

Stock markets breaking records but what happened to Odido's IPO plans?

Background

01:04

The week in telecom: Wi-Fi bolt-ons take off to boost broadband growth, video market works on consolidation

01:39

The week in telecom: Netflix wins bidding for Warner Bros, Apple poaches new execs, Samsung debuts trifold

13:51

Proximus vs. Telenet: Proximus performs better in Q3 while Telenet uses up cash

14:16

Proximus Domestic still struggling with low margins