Vodafone plans to extend its 5G coverage to 90% of Spain by the end of 2025. This ambitious expansion will include over 1,000 additional municipalities in 49 provinces. The network will extend to areas with fewer than 1,000 residents up to cities with populations between 10,000 and 50,000. This expansion surpasses initial deployment plans, aiming to enhance indoor coverage and improve bandwidth and data transmission using the 700MHz frequency, especially in rural locales.
Julia Velasco, Director of Technology and Operations at Vodafone Spain, commented, “To further drive digital inclusion for businesses, citizens, and public administrations, Vodafone’s 5G network will reach 90% of the population, spanning large cities, smaller towns, and rural areas. Our goal is to close the digital gap and provide connectivity for everyone, especially those who need it most.”
Vodafone started its 5G journey in Spain with Non-Standalone architecture in 2019 and later initiated a pre-commercial Standalone network in June 2021. By January 2022, 5G services began utilizing the 700 MHz frequency across 109 municipalities after acquiring the necessary spectrum mid-2021.
In recent business moves, Vodafone Group sold its Spanish operations to Zegona Communications in May 2024 for $5.4 billion. The two companies agreed on a long-term brand license, allowing Zegona to use the Vodafone brand in Spain for up to a decade. Other collaborations include procurement, IoT, roaming, and carrier services. The sale received approval from the Spanish government, with conditions ensuring service continuity and future 5G investments.
Another strategic partnership involves a joint fiber venture with MasOrange, creating FiberCo, a leading FTTH network in Spain. This collaboration aims to bolster connectivity and digitalization efforts. FiberCo will integrate over 12 million real estate units, becoming Europe’s largest fiber network company, focusing on serving MasOrange and Vodafone customers. MasOrange holds a 50% stake, Vodafone owns 10%, and a financial investor controls the remaining 40%.