Telefonica is the main service provider in Spain for landlines. Installation generally takes up to 20 days from the date of your request and you will be supplied with at least one telephone handset; more are available to buy direct from Telefonica or you may choose to purchase handsets from elsewhere.

Further information and details of the frequent special offers can be found by following the link to the Telefonica website

Following the de-regulation of the Spanish telephone market consumers are able to take advantage of the many offers available through a number of other companies providing competitive combined call and internet packages. Once you have had your line installed you are free to place your business with whichever company provides the service best suited to your needs.

All Inland Spanish landline phone numbers begin with a 9 and consist of nine digits. Even when dialling locally you will always be required to dial the full number. Almost all telephone numbers in Andalucía commence with 95 followed by a further seven digits; mobile phones in Spain all begin with a 6 regardless of region, or indeed, the service provider.

Along the high street and in larger supermarkets can be found the usual array of mobile phone companies offering both ‘pay as you go’ and contract deals. Since the contracts are nowhere near as generous as those in the UK, it is common practice to buy a ‘pay as you go’ handset, topping it up as necessary either in a supermarket or through the ever increasing network of cash dispensers.

Telephone boxes, 'cabinas telefónicas', are quite common in Spain and work on the same principle to their UK counterparts. There are a variety of telephone cards available to buy in newsagents and tobacconists; there are those offering discounted calls, whereby you call a freephone number and follow the instructions and those that are inserted in to a slot in the public telephone thus replacing the need to have small change available.

You may also make calls from an individual cubicle in an Internet Café, paying at the desk afterwards. Bars also will often have public telephones, but whilst being convenient they can cost more and the surroundings may be a little noisy.

Special Numbers

•    Numbers beginning in 900 are freephone numbers

•    Numbers beginning in 901 are local call rate numbers

•    Numbers beginning in 902 are national call rate numbers

•    Numbers beginning in 906 are premium rate numbers (chat lines etc)