Just weeks after a historic nationwide power outage, Spain was plunged into further disarray early Tuesday morning as a widespread mobile network disruption left millions without phone or internet access.
The outage, which began around 2 AM and intensified by 5 AM, crippled services across all major telecom providers including Orange, Movistar, Vodafone, Digimobil, and O2, impacting major cities like Madrid, Barcelona, Seville, Valencia, Bilbao, and Malaga.
Users reported a complete loss of signal, rendering them unable to make calls, send texts, or access mobile data.
The disruption also had critical implications for emergency services, with access to the EU-wide emergency number 112 affected in several regions, including Aragón, Extremadura, the Basque Country, and the Valencia community.
Authorities swiftly responded by issuing alternative contact numbers to ensure public safety.
While some services were gradually restored later in the morning, the incident caused significant inconvenience for millions of users.
According to Spanish media, the culprit behind the widespread failure was attributed to a major technical fault during a network upgrade undertaken by Telefonica.
Telefonica, the country’s second-largest company, serves as a key operator for a significant portion of Spain’s mobile infrastructure.
Landline services were also severely impacted, with all voice-related services experiencing varying degrees of disruption.
A Telefonica spokesperson acknowledged the issue.
“We have carried out some network upgrades that have affected specific services at some companies. We are working to resolve this,” the spokesperson said.
The Ministry for Digital Transformation has also stepped in, stating it is actively monitoring the situation and seeking further details regarding the cause and extent of the outage.
Telefónica is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, headquartered in Madrid, Spain. Founded in 1924 as a state-owned monopoly, the company was privatized in the 1990s and has since evolved into a multinational corporation serving over 380 million customers across Europe and Latin America.
The company operates under various brand names, including Movistar in Spain and Latin America, O2 in the United Kingdom and Germany, and Vivo in Brazil. Telefónica’s extensive network infrastructure spans fixed-line telephony, mobile communications, broadband internet, and digital television services.
Latin America represents a crucial market for Telefónica, where it maintains leading positions in countries like Brazil, Argentina, Chile, and Peru. The company has invested heavily in 5G technology and fiber-optic networks, positioning itself at the forefront of digital transformation initiatives.
Beyond traditional telecommunications, Telefónica has expanded into cloud services, cybersecurity, and Internet of Things (IoT) solutions. The company emphasizes sustainability and digital inclusion, working to bridge the digital divide in underserved communities.
