Internet and TV in Spain – Providers and Prices 2026

Internet in Spain is fast, cheap and widely available. More than 90% of all Spanish households have access to fibre (FTTH), and prices start at €10 per month for 500 Mbps — a fraction of what the equivalent costs in Sweden. Spain ranks sixth in the EU for fibre coverage and has one of the world's highest connection rates.

That is good news if you are planning to move to Spain or already live there part-time. But there are practical hurdles: you need a NIE number and a Spanish bank account to sign a contract, providers' customer service is almost exclusively in Spanish, and promotional prices that look attractive can double after 12 months.

In this guide we cover fibre coverage and speeds, compare the five major providers with current prices, explain how to get internet step by step, and give concrete tips on mobile plans, watching Swedish TV via VPN and solutions for those who only live in Spain part of the year.

How good is internet in Spain?

Spain has invested massively in fibre infrastructure since the 2010s and the result is impressive. The country has 95.2% fibre population coverage — far above the EU average of 64%. Even in rural areas the coverage rate reaches 79%, which is among the highest in Europe.

In practice this means that the vast majority of homes along Costa Blanca and Costa del Sol have access to symmetrical fibre with speeds of 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps. In major cities like Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia, Digi already offers 10 Gbps — ten times faster than what most Swedish households have access to.

Compared with Sweden, Spain is actually a step ahead when it comes to fibre availability. While Sweden has good coverage in urban areas, Spain has managed to reach smaller communities and coastal towns like Torrevieja, Guardamar and Nerja with full-value fibre. This is because Telefónica (Movistar) invested early in FTTH instead of copper, and because competitors like Digi, Orange and MásMóvil have built their own parallel networks.

The mobile network is also of a high standard. 5G coverage is expanding rapidly and 4G works practically everywhere except in the most remote mountain areas. If you are in an area without fibre — which is unusual — a 4G/5G router can be a fully adequate alternative with speeds of 50–300 Mbps.

Which internet providers are available in Spain?

The Spanish market is dominated by five operators: Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, Digi and the MásMóvil group (which includes the brands Yoigo, Pepephone and Lowi). Each operator has its strengths — and weaknesses.

Movistar — largest and most reliable

Movistar (owned by Telefónica) is Spain's largest operator and has the most extensive fibre network. They cover virtually the entire country, including smaller towns and rural areas. Customer service is available in Spanish and English. The downside is that they are usually the most expensive and that prices rise after the promotional period.

Orange — good bundle packages

Orange is Spain's second-largest operator and offers competitive packages with fibre, mobile and TV. They have their own fibre network in major cities and use Movistar's infrastructure in smaller towns. Orange's Love packages are popular among expats who want everything in one place.

Vodafone — best English-language customer service

Vodafone is the natural choice if you do not speak Spanish. They have Spain's best English-language customer service and offer stable fibre connections. Prices are on a par with Movistar and Orange, but you pay for the reassurance of being able to communicate in English.

Digi — cheapest by a wide margin

Digi (a Romanian telecoms company) has revolutionised the Spanish market with aggressive pricing. Where their own network (Fibra SMART) is available they offer 500 Mbps for €10 per month and 1 Gbps for €20 — roughly half of what Movistar charges. Digi is expanding rapidly but is not yet available everywhere. In areas without their own network they use Movistar's infrastructure, and then 1 Gbps costs €30.

MásMóvil group — the middle ground

MásMóvil owns the brands Yoigo, Pepephone and Lowi. They position themselves as the middle option: cheaper than Movistar but with better customer service than Digi. Pepephone has a strong reputation for transparency and no hidden charges. Lowi (the budget brand) is popular among younger Spaniards.

What does internet cost in Spain?

Prices vary considerably depending on the operator and whether you choose a promotional or standard price. Here is a comparison of the most common fibre subscriptions (fibre only, without mobile or TV) in March 2026:

Digi's prices stand out. They did not raise prices in January 2026 — unlike Movistar (+2.2%), Vodafone (+6.7%) and Orange (+4–5%) which all implemented price increases at the start of the year.

What is included in the price?

Most operators include free installation, a WiFi 6 router and a fixed phone number with unlimited calls to Spanish landlines. Movistar and Orange also include a certain number of minutes to Spanish mobile phones. Digi includes 50 GB of cloud storage.

Are bundle packages (fibre + mobile) cheaper?

Often — yes. Most Spaniards sign bundle subscriptions (tarifas convergentes) with fibre, mobile and sometimes TV. A typical package with 600 Mbps fibre plus a mobile plan with unlimited calls and 30–60 GB of data costs €35–55 per month. That can be €10–15 cheaper per month compared to having separate contracts.

How do you get internet in Spain?

Signing a fibre contract in Spain requires a little more preparation than in Sweden. Here is the process step by step.

Step 1: Get a NIE number

The vast majority of operators require a NIE number (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) to sign a contract. You need a NIE for everything administrative in Spain — bank account, property purchase, electricity contract and internet. Apply well in advance: processing time is 4–8 weeks via the Spanish consulate in Sweden, or 2–4 weeks directly at the Policía Nacional in Spain.

Step 2: Open a Spanish bank account

Direct debit (domiciliación bancaria) is the standard payment method. Most operators require a Spanish bank account linked to your contract. You can open an account at for example CaixaBank, BBVA or Sabadell — all require NIE, passport and proof of address in Spain.

Step 3: Check coverage at your address

Before ordering: go to the operator's website and enter your address to check what type of fibre is available. Movistar has the broadest coverage. Digi has the best price but is not available everywhere. Compare at least two operators.

Step 4: Order and book installation

You can order online or visit a shop (tienda). If your Spanish is limited, a shop visit is preferable — bring a Spanish-speaking friend or neighbour. In major cities fibre is installed within 48–72 hours. In coastal towns like Torrevieja or Nerja it normally takes 5–10 working days.

Step 5: Installation

A technician comes to your home and installs the router. If fibre is already connected to the apartment, installation takes 30–60 minutes. If the technician needs to run new fibre it can take 2–3 hours. Installation is usually free with a contract of at least 3 months.

Which mobile plans work best?

As a resident of Spain you need a Spanish mobile number. There are two options: contract subscription (contrato) or prepaid SIM (prepago). Prepaid SIMs only require a passport — contract subscriptions require NIE and a bank account.

Contract subscription (recommended for residents)

The cheapest contract subscriptions start at €5–7 per month with MVNO operators like Pepephone, Lowi and Simyo. For €10–15 per month you get unlimited calls within Spain and 20–50 GB of data. They use the same master networks as the major operators (Movistar, Orange or Vodafone) and the quality is equivalent.

Digi offers 50 GB data plus unlimited calls for €10 per month — hard to beat if you just need a standard subscription. Lobster (MVNO on Movistar's network) specifically targets English speakers and has English-language customer service, but costs €12–24 per month.

Prepaid / SIM card (good for part-time residents)

Lycamobile, Lebara and Orange offer prepaid SIMs that are activated immediately in-store. You buy a SIM card for €10–15 including a starter data allowance (5–15 GB). No contract, no bank account required — but you need to show a passport or ID when purchasing. Prepaid SIMs are practical if you are only in Spain for a few months per year.

Roaming with a Swedish subscription

Since 2017 you can use your Swedish mobile subscription in Spain without roaming charges (EU roaming). But there is a limitation: operators can cap data when you are continuously outside your home country. If you live permanently in Spain you risk being charged extra after 4–6 months of continuous roaming. A Spanish subscription is cheaper and more stable in the long run.

How do you watch Swedish TV in Spain?

Watching Swedish TV is one of the most common questions among Swedes who move to Spain. SVT Play, TV4 Play and most Swedish streaming services are geographically blocked — they only work with a Swedish IP address. But there are solutions.

VPN — the most common method

A VPN (Virtual Private Network) encrypts your internet traffic and lets you connect via a server in Sweden. From the Spanish side it looks as though you are browsing from Stockholm. SVT Play, TV4 Play, Discovery+ and Viaplay all work with a good VPN.

The most recommended VPN services for Swedish TV are:

• NordVPN — Over 100 Swedish servers, fast speed, costs €3–4 per month on an annual subscription
• ExpressVPN — Slightly more expensive (€6–8/month) but consistently fast and reliable
• Surfshark — Budget-friendly (€2–3/month), unlimited number of devices

Install the VPN app on your Smart TV, Apple TV, Fire TV Stick or directly on the router. Router installation is most convenient — then all devices in the home are protected automatically.

Swedish streaming services that work with VPN

SVT Play (free with Swedish IP), TV4 Play (free with ads, or TV4 Play Premium), Discovery+ (subscription), Viaplay (subscription) and C More (subscription). Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max work with your existing account but show Spanish content without VPN — with VPN connected to Sweden you get the Swedish library.

Without VPN — what works?

YouTube works without restrictions. Netflix, Disney+ and HBO Max work but show the Spanish library (which often contains different films and series than the Swedish one). Spotify works normally. The SVT News app shows news but not the full SVT Play catalogue.

How does Spanish TV work?

Spain has a rich TV offering — both free and via pay channels.

Free channels (TDT)

Spain's equivalent of over-the-air digital TV is called TDT (Televisión Digital Terrestre). You get around 30 free channels including TVE (public service), Antena 3, Telecinco, La Sexta and Cuatro. A digital TV receiver costs €20–40. Most modern TVs have a built-in TDT tuner.

Pay channels and streaming

Movistar+ is Spain's largest pay-TV platform with sport (La Liga, Champions League), films and series. It costs €10–25 per month depending on the package, and is often included in Movistar's fibre packages. Orange TV offers a similar catalogue and is included in Orange's Love packages. Vodafone TV complements their fibre packages.

International streaming services such as Netflix (€5.49–17.99/month), HBO Max (€5.99–9.99/month), Disney+ (€5.99–11.99/month) and Amazon Prime Video (€4.99/month) work with a Spanish or Swedish account. The catalogue differs slightly from Sweden, but most international series and films are available.

What tips apply to part-time residents?

If you only live in Spain for part of the year — for example November to April — there are smarter solutions than paying for a full annual subscription.

Fibre contract without a fixed term

Movistar offers fibre without a fixed term (sin permanencia). You can cancel the contract at any time without a penalty fee. The downside is that the installation charge (normally free with a fixed-term contract) may apply with a short contract. Digi has only a 3-month contract period — if you are in Spain for at least three months per year, it is the cheapest solution.

Mobile router as an alternative

A 4G/5G mobile router (Mi-Fi) costs €50–100 and can be connected to a prepaid SIM with a data allowance. Orange and Vodafone offer data plans with 50–100 GB per month for €15–25. That is enough for everyday browsing and email but not for streaming films in HD daily. The advantage: no installation, no contract, no bureaucracy.

Keep your Swedish subscription

If you live a maximum of 3–4 months per year in Spain you can use your Swedish mobile subscription as a hotspot via EU roaming. Check with your operator what applies for long-term roaming — Telia, Tele2 and Tre have different rules. Combine with a cheap prepaid plan from Lycamobile or Lebara as a backup.

Neighbour's WiFi or shared subscription

In residential communities (comunidades) on the Costa Blanca, many Swedish part-time residents share a fibre subscription. One person signs the contract and shares the password. It is not ideal for security, but it is common and works if few people are sharing.

Common questions about internet in Spain

Last updated: April 2026. Prices and provider terms may change — contact the operator directly for current offers.