Copper switch-off is on the agenda for incumbents around the world and in Spain - full fiber network coverage is accelerating faster than ever. Showing full commitment to the EU's connectivity objectives in the 'Digital Spain 2025' agenda, Spain is at the forefront of fiber deployment in the EU, "standing 35 points above the EU average despite its large size and geography." - La Moncloa.

Copper switch-off refers to the removal of legacy copper cables in the access network of traditional telecommunication operators and the shutdown of the copper-based local exchanges. When a complete copper switch-off occurs, customers are migrated to alternative solutions such as fiber-to-the-home, and mobile or fixed wireless access. Complete switch-off occurs when all customers are served via the next generation of technology - which in today's digital landscape is, fiber connectivity and 5G technology.

As Spain says a final Adios to Copper Networks and Hola to redes de fibra (fiber networks), here Voiped Telecom, Spain, shares with you what your business can expect from the final countdown to Spain's full fiber network infrastructure.

Telecommunications Incumbent, Telefónica leads the way in Copper switch-off

Spanish multinational telecommunications company, Telefónica, recently affirmed its commitment to completing full migration from copper to fiber during 2024, bringing to a close a program that began back in 2016. 

The Spanish multi-national telco has notified the National Commission for Markets and Competition (Comision Nacional de los Mercados y la Competencia, CNMC). Further, the company has published the shutdown date for the area that has proved the most problematic: San Sebastian/San Marcial on 29 May 2024.

Fiber switch-on: An opportunity to drive environmental efficiency

While legacy copper networks can still deliver speeds in the range of 100 Mbps, they do so with high costs, high energy consumption, and constraints such as short local loop lengths (just a few hundred meters of copper wires, on average) and higher fault rates. With demand for high upload and download Internet Speed on the increase, legacy copper networks are unable to keep up or only able to do so at a much higher cost than alternative fiber-based technologies.

The objective of the copper-to-fiber transformation in Spain offers several advantages that will better position consumers within society's digital future. These opportunities include environmental efficiency (energy savings and components recycling) and also freeing up capital and resources that can be better utilized in delivering gigabit broadband with the most efficient and future-proof technologies, such as fiber, 5G, and IP Telephony.

How is the Copper Switch-off going to affect my business in Spain?

Many businesses in Spain rely on the network connections that are supplied via copper cables, for example, DSL Internet and ISDN telephone lines, these services will be replaced with a fiber-based alternative. 

From local authorities, Healthcare surgeries, and large retail providers, your existing Internet service provider in Spain, whether Telefonica, Vodafone Spain (transitioning to Zegona Communications), Orange Business, or otherwise, will contact you regarding the switch-off and the process for transitioning business communications services during the migration, along with setup process of your new business fiber connection.

As a business customer, you can migrate to another operator or choose to stay with your existing operator. Alongside, the change of new technologies, your current copper telephone line means that a switch to IP telephony is also underway.

Copper Switch off: A parallel Initive for PSTN to IP Telephony

Over recent years, the telecom regulator, the National Commission for Markets and Competition (CNMC), reviewed the market for voice call termination on individual mobile networks (market 2/2014) and the high-quality access market for business communications (market 2/2020).

Along with a host of other European countries such as the Netherlands, Estonia, Portugal, and Germany, in Spain, incumbent telecommunications providers made the strategic decision to phase out PSTN and ISDN, since the country revised its 2014 General Telecommunications Law (LGTel) in June 2022. The PSTN and ISDN switch-off is a critical milestone in the country's journey toward a fully digital and fully fiber-optic future.

The case of Spain, a Country with extensive Fiber coverage

Spain is a leading example of becoming a bridge within the digital divide between rural and urban areas. With 82% fiber network coverage and, at least 62% of SMEs fully digitalized, thanks not only to the advanced deployment and very extensive coverage of the fiber network but also to the commercial boost that all operators in the market have given to fiber-based products, Spain is fast closing in on its 2025 objectives for guaranteeing adequate digital connectivity for 100% of the population, with 100 Mbps coverage).

About Voiped Telecom, Spain

With leading telecommunications partners in Spain such as Telefónica and Orange Business, Voiped Telecom -  Spain provides flexible and secure Fiber Internet connectivity characterized by high quality, high availability, and optimized security. Our unique approach helps companies in Spain to facilitate high performance and productivity through industry-leading Internet access, tailored to your operational needs.

Jan 10, 2024