When questioned, they always state that it's for new customers only. I have heard that some people have threatened to leave and then got the new rate. Others have had to leave and then re-apply - this is tricky though as you may not be able to get a line and/or the same number again.

Your big problem will be speed.. many areas are still well under 5 mbps, and often as low as 2. Forget about the 30 - 50+ you get in the UK, only in places like Madrid and Barcelona will you get anyhwere near to those speeds.

The number does not bother me but I believe I am tied to a 1 year contract from when I took it out, and it was quite a hassle for me to get it in the first place.

While I am here and discussing this, I have no caller id, I know I can buy it and phone 1004 but can you also just go into a movistar shop and ask them to connect it ?

tia.

I disagree a lot of towns have pretty decent internet, maybe some expat areas have been forgotten as it seems they always are, surrounding me its not that bad, both towns outside of my urb are 25's (adsl2+), many CBN towns have fibre now.

Obviously rural places are bad, they are in a lot of places inc USA

When I searched for a property here the speed of the internet was a factor and I would imagine that anyone who needs it will also take that into account. Having now lived here for a bit I think I could easily move into a town / city, rather than the outskirts of a urb.

Yes, but it's free for the first year, and only pennies for every year after, for unlimited use worldwide. Works on iPhones and Android, and I think Microsoft mobile, too. Whatsapp is extremely popular over here. Everybody has it. We've enlightened our friends in the UK, Germany and the US too. We can send messages back and forth anytime instantly, no charge.

The other thing I like about whatsapp is that you can also send photos and sound in a message, and the user interface is brain-dead easy to use and understand. It automatically identifies if users in your contacts list have it, and allows you to message them if so. Really simple, fast, and even fun to use, and uses very little data. Sometimes we have 5 or 6 simultaneous chats going on all over the planet :-)

Very cool app. Google Play Store or Apple app store. It's free.

Tend to use facebook, never was a fan but the messaging is handy, some of my friends don't have it, but one his wife wont let him have one, they will take convincing as they don't like anything apart from the norm.

Anywyay thanks for that, it seems a few of my mates are on it already Im the slow one !

but at the end of the day it all comes down to good old copper connections and the final run.
considering Spain electricians don't use ring main but radials and its the same with their fone ccts then you can see the potential for large voltage drops.

`

Exactly, the best option, if available in your area, is to choose "fibra optica" with movistar o Ono that reaches up to 100 mbps whilst movistar ADSL only gets up to 10mbps (5 mbps in most cases)

if you go to the Movistar website and start working the pages you will come to an option for the type of connection you require. One of those is Fibre.
Enter your post code and see what result you get. For very many parts of the Iberian Peninsular it is NO CONNECTION.

All other companies will give you a response based on the Movistar search, as with BT they own the infrastructure, the bare bones, call it what you will. So, again as the UK, they make space available in the exchange for their kit to be fitted, they ride on Movistar's infrastructure.

Satellite systems downing in the UK have no connection to the infrastructure until the signal is processed in the UK - Bentley Walker for example downs near Coventry.
Wimax downs at the nearest mast to your location in Spain, after that they are subject to the vagaries of the owner of the infrastructure - Movistar !!

enjoy whatever you go with, it can be a bumpy ride and an expensive one without a photo of you coming to the end.

`

As Concierge for the Spanish section of BE I would like to say hello and welcome.

BE is a very large expat website, so if you have problems finding your way around we have concierges who will try to direct you. The moderators for the Spanish forums are Mitzyboy and Fred James, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE. Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderador who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. At the top of the page you will find a quirkily named thread called Free Beer which is full of important and useful information. Hope you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary

Hi, I live in the campo area off Nerja, NO telephone lines, unfortunately since the removal off BBC, ITV channels from the Sky satellite, everyone who does not have a telephone connection is using the IPTV system which is reducing the speeds required to watch TV, hence picture freezing, buffering which ruins your veiwing, I think the provider that we are with is using 2 donkeys to crank up the speed, its very very poor at best, can anyone tell us if they are getting more than 3 mbs
Cheers Mike 46

Hi and a warm welcome to the Spanish forum on BE. I am the Concierge for the Spanish section and thought that you might find it helpful to know that the moderators for the Spanish forums are Fred James and Bevs, moderators are there to ensure that the site runs smoothly within the rules of BE.

Problems and complaints should always be addressed to a moderator who will look into the matter and deal with it efficiently and fairly. Our members who post in the Spain Forums are usually friendly and helpful with a wealth of knowledge of the issues of living in Spain. I hope that you enjoy your time participating in the forums.

Please let me know if you need any further help.

Rosemary