Staying in touch from your Spanish home
Whether you have a permanent home in Spain or are just visiting, you will want to stay in touch with what is happening in the world, with your family and friends back home, and with local events. Because living in Spain has long been a popular dream for Brits there are many English language sources of information, and most Spanish homes can access modern communication services.
Installing a landline telephone in your Spanish home
If you are buying a new-build or off-plan home in Spain, your phone line will probably be installed when you move in. If it is not, or if your Spanish home is not newly built, you will need to apply to the much-unloved Spanish telecoms giant, Telefonica. Installation typically costs about €150 (more for non-residents).
Telefonica´s reputation for inefficiency is legendary among expats. Be prepared to wait two months or more for installation if your home in Spain is not in a major city. In rural areas, it could even take years and be very expensive! When finally installed, a Spanish landline installation includes an answerphone (contestador). Many Brits living in Spain opt out of this service and bring their own machine.
The recent launch of competitors to Telefonica is forcing that company to cut their rates and even improve its service.
The international dialling code for Spain is +34. International and national calls are cheapest after 10pm during the week, after 2pm on Saturday, and all day Sunday.
Living in Spain - mobile phones
If you are visiting Spain, rather than actually living in Spain, you can continue to use your UK mobile but may need to have your handset unlocked at a mobile phone store offering this service (look for ´se libran moviles´).
Many Brits who live in their Spanish home prefer to buy a Spanish mobile. If you have a permanent home in Spain, and an NIE, you may prefer to buy a Spanish mobile contract with cheaper rates and a monthly bill. Many competitive deals and packages are available, so shop around. If you are living in Spain but do not yet have an NIE, the only Spanish mobile contracts available will be pay-as-you-go which charge higher rates for calls and texts.
Movistar is Telefonica´s mobile service. Amena is a relatively new supplier whose service is still rather patchy.
Living in Spain - public telephone services
Public telephone boxes (cabinas) can be found in the street. Cash phones accept most Euro coins but you will need to purchase a phone card from a tobacconist to use card phones. Some phones have an English language facility. Public telephones can also be found in most bars and restaurants.
Living in Spain - postal services
Spain´s postal service ´Correos´ is improving slowly. It is possible your new home in Spain will not be included on a delivery round, especially if it is in a rural area. The easiest way around this, or any unreliable deliveries, is to open your own post box in the local post office, and collect your mail. This costs about 45 Euros/year.
Living in Spain - Internet access
In 2006, some 40% of people living in Spain are Internet users but broadband (on cable or ADSL Internet) is relatively new. Call charges to your ISP can soon mount up so some Brits with a permanent Spanish home sign up for flat rate (tarifa plana) service which includes the cost of calls. Rates vary according to the time of day you are online. Ya.com and Wanadoo are two providers, both offering a 24-hour-a-day service for under €20 a month.
Cable Internet is a good alternative to ADSL Internet, but not all homes in Spain are able to receive a service. Telefonica´s main rival is Auna who make a monthly charge of about €35 after a €120 installation.
For those living in a Spanish home without internet access, most major cities have cyber cafes. The charge is usually about about €3 and hour. Spanish domain names end in .es.
Living in Spain - Spanish newspapers, tv and radio
Brits with a home in Spain are able to keep up to date with world affairs and local news through a number of English language newspapers. Most regions have one. Those with the highest circulations are: Costa Blanca News (weekly), Costa del Sol News (weekly), Sur in English (daily), Tenerife News (fortnightly).
Efe News is an online news agency specialising in the Spanish-speaking world.
There are plenty of radio stations to choose from, including several that serve Brits living in Spain and the islands: Power FM and Sunshine Radio broadcast in the Canary Islands; Rem FM and Central FM broadcast in the Costa del Sol: Spectrum FM broadcasts in Costa Almeria and Costa Blanca, and Costa del Sol. The Spanish national radio is broadcast by RTVE.
All Spanish homes should be able to pick up a selection of Spanish television broadcasts. The national stations with the largest audiences are TVE1 and 2, Antena 3, and Tele 5. Depending on where you are staying or living in Spain, you should also find at least one regional tv station and you may be able to get cable tv and/or satellite tv connected to your home in Spain. Cable and satellite connections are rarely installed as an off-plan option and reception can be poor in some areas.
