Arranging internet, a Spanish mobile number and household utilities is one of the first practical tasks after moving into Spain. The process is usually straightforward once you know whether your home already has active connections. Before signing anything, confirm the exact address, ask the landlord or previous owner which services are installed, and check whether bills are included in the rent.
Home internet: fibre is the usual choice
Fibre-optic broadband, often advertised as fibra or FTTH, is widely available in Spanish cities and many towns. Speeds vary by address, commonly from around 300 Mbps to 1 Gbps or more. Availability, installation dates and promotional offers depend on the building and the local network, so use each provider’s address checker rather than relying on coverage maps alone.
The main nationwide operators are Movistar, Vodafone, Orange and MásMóvil. Their brands and low-cost subsidiaries may offer fibre-only plans, mobile-and-fibre bundles, television or landline service. Digi and other operators are also present in parts of Spain, sometimes using their own network and sometimes another company’s infrastructure. A bundle can be convenient, but compare the total price after any introductory period, the minimum term, installation conditions and the cost of cancelling or returning equipment.
To order fixed internet, providers normally request your identity document, Spanish address, bank details for direct debit and a contact telephone number. An installer may need access to the building’s telecommunications cupboard and your apartment. If the property has never had service, installation can take longer or require permission from the building’s community of owners. Ask for the contract summary, router conditions and the procedure for reporting faults. Keep the router and any other equipment if the provider requires it to be returned when you cancel.
Mobile phones and prepaid SIM cards
Spain has extensive 4G and growing 5G coverage, although performance varies in rural and mountainous areas. Movistar, Vodafone, Orange and MásMóvil operate mobile services, while numerous virtual operators use one of the larger networks. Coverage at your home, workplace and regular travel routes is more important than the headline speed.
A prepaid SIM, known as a tarjeta prepago, is useful if you have just arrived, do not yet have a Spanish bank account, or want to test coverage before taking a contract. You can buy one at operator shops and some authorised retailers. Take your passport, national identity card or TIE; Spanish law requires mobile SIM cards to be registered to the user. Top-ups are available online, through an app, in shops and sometimes at cash machines. Check the validity period, data allowance, renewal rules and the price of calls to countries outside the European Union.
Contract plans usually require identification and a Spanish payment method. Some providers may carry out additional checks, especially when supplying a handset. EU roaming rules generally allow residents of EU, EEA countries and certain associated territories to use mobile services while temporarily travelling within the regulated area, subject to fair-use policies. These rules do not automatically cover long-term use in Spain by a non-EU resident, nor do they cover calls to non-EU destinations. A Spanish number is often helpful for appointments, deliveries, banking and two-factor authentication.
Electricity: transferring or starting a supply
Electricity is supplied through a network distributor assigned to your area, but you choose the retailer that bills you. Large retailers include Endesa, Iberdrola, Naturgy and TotalEnergies, alongside many other companies. Ask the previous occupant or landlord for a recent bill showing the CUPS, the permanent supply code, and the current contracted power. The CUPS identifies the property and is different from your bank account or meter number.
If electricity is already connected, changing the contract holder is normally simpler and avoids unnecessary disconnection. You will generally need your passport or NIE, the address, CUPS, a Spanish bank account and proof of occupancy such as a rental contract or escritura. Compare the regulated market, where eligible consumers can access the PVPC tariff through a reference retailer, with market offers at freely set prices. Ask whether the quoted price is temporary, whether maintenance services are included and whether there is a minimum commitment.
For a newly built property or a supply that has been disconnected for a long time, the distributor may require technical paperwork, including an electrical installation certificate, often called a boletín. Activation can involve connection and access charges. Do not assume that a very low promotional tariff includes every regulated charge or tax.
Gas and water in your new home
Where a home has mains natural gas, the gas distributor is determined by the area, while you choose the retailer. Naturgy is a prominent supplier, but other retailers may offer contracts. Request the CUPS for gas, the latest bill and the date of the last inspection. Spain requires periodic checks of gas installations; the timing and responsibility can differ between individual systems and community installations. Never use a gas appliance until it has been properly connected and checked.
Eligible households can compare the regulated Tarifa de Último Recurso (TUR) with market contracts. Ask specifically whether the property uses mains gas, bottled butane or a communal system, since the ordering and payment arrangements are different. In a rental, clarify who pays for routine inspections and maintenance before signing.
Water is normally managed locally rather than by one nationwide provider. The responsible company may be a municipal service or a concessionaire appointed by the ayuntamiento. Contact the town hall or check the previous bill to arrange a change of holder, opening or reconnection. You may need identification, the property address, meter details, proof of occupancy and bank information. Some services request a deposit or charge for a new connection. Take a meter reading on the handover date and photograph it.
A practical moving-in checklist
- Record electricity, gas and water meter readings, and photograph the meters.
- Ask for the CUPS and previous bills before changing utility contracts.
- Check fibre availability using the complete address, including staircase, floor and door.
- Keep copies of contracts, direct-debit mandates, cancellation requests and equipment returns.
- Use the CNMC’s consumer information and complaint channels if a regulated utility issue is not resolved by the company.
Once your essential connections are working, explore local businesses and services in the directory to find trusted help for your new home and neighbourhood.