Internet Options in Madrid
Internet in Spain is provided by all of the companies providing landline phone service and should always be solicited as part of a package deal with your landline phone service. Cable TV is provided by these companies as well, and it’s always cheaper to buy a bundled package.
Each company has different Internet packages. Essentially, the quicker the connection, the more expensive the service. Always solicit your landline and Internet services via the provider’s Web site, as the online offers generally have better rates and provide a free Wifi router. You can also solicit these services by phone, but you may end up having to pay an exorbitant amount of money for the router. If you already have a phone line installed in your house, the company will send you the router and instructions on how to set up your Internet connection via messenger. If you don’t have a phone line, technicians will be sent to your house to install the line and the router at the same time. Either way, it takes about one week.
Internet and landline service providers include:
- Telefonica – http://www.telefonica.es
- Ono – http://www.ono.es/home1v.aspx
- Jazztel – http://www.jazztel.com/
- Orange – http://clientes.orange.es/
- Ya.com – http://www.ya.com/
Internet Cafes/Locutorios
While waiting to get a home connection, you can get online at Internet cafes or locutorios (call centers). Chain Internet cafes may have a couple of computer terminals, but independently owned cafes simply have Wifi that anyone with a laptop can access. The cost of using this service is the price of the drink you order. Most foreigners make the mistake of going to Starbucks to connect to the Internet. This is not a good option in Spain. Starbucks charges about 6 euros for a half hour Wifi connection, which is unheard of anywhere else in Madrid. You do not have to pay that much for Internet!
If you don’t have a laptop, it’s best to go to your local locutorio, where they have phone booths for long distance calls and several computer terminals. Locutorios are fairly inexpensive and charge about 3 euros for an hour-long Internet connection, although you are only charged for the amount of time you use the computer, so if you’re only online half an hour, you’ll only have to pay 1.50 eruos, not the full 3.00 euros.
