Massive Mobile Network Outage Hits Spain Weeks After Nationwide Power Blackout
A major mobile network outage has hit Spain, bringing down phone and data services across all major telecom providers on Monday, just four weeks after the country experienced a massive nationwide power blackout.
The disruption began early morning, with millions of users across Spain reporting they were unable to make calls, send texts, or use mobile data. Affected networks include Telefonica, Movistar, Orange, Vodafone, and O2.
According to data from monitoring platform DownDetector, user complaints surged rapidly across multiple cities, indicating widespread system failure.
In a critical development, Spain’s national emergency number ‘112’ was also hit, forcing emergency services in several regions to publish alternate contact numbers. The outages prompted concerns over public safety and emergency response capability.
Local media reports suggest the outage may be linked to a scheduled network upgrade by Telefonica, Spain’s largest telecom provider. However, no official confirmation has been issued by the company.
The Ministry of Digital Transformation released a brief statement saying it was “monitoring the situation closely”, but provided no timeline for service restoration.
Social media platforms were flooded with complaints from residents across Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and other cities. The hashtag #SpainOutage began trending on X (formerly Twitter), with many users expressing anger over the lack of prior warning or official updates.
“No mobile service for hours and no explanation from any provider. Totally unacceptable,” wrote one user from Seville.
“Emergency numbers down too? This is a serious national security concern,” another user posted.
This latest digital disruption comes on the heels of a historic power blackout in April, which left Spain and neighboring Portugal in darkness for nearly 23 hours. That outage had crippled essential services, including traffic lights, airports, and metro systems. Hundreds of flights were cancelled, and thousands were stranded.
Experts have warned of growing vulnerabilities in Spain’s digital and electrical infrastructure, urging authorities to implement better safeguards and contingency plans.
