Internet and mobile in the Balearics: which provider to choose

The big Spanish operators (Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, MasMovil) and the low-cost ones (Digi, Lowi, Pepephone, O2, Simyo) all cover the Balearics, but network quality varies sharply from one island to the next. Here are the prices in force at the end of 2026, what changes island by island, and the steps for a newcomer setting up.

Which mobile operators should you consider, and at what price?

These are national Spanish rates (there is no Balearic-specific price grid).

Digi has said it will not raise prices in 2026 and claims 13 percent of the Spanish mobile market (11.4 million customers, Q1 2026). No-contract alternatives (Lowi, Pepephone, O2, Simyo) start around 5 to 7 euros for 25 to 50 GB. For fibre broadband, the cheapest combos run around 13 to 38 euros a month with Digi, against 50 euros and above with Movistar or Orange.

Does network coverage really vary by island?

Yes, and the gap is real. According to Spanish telecoms regulator data as of December 2024, fast 5G coverage (the 3.5 GHz band) stood as follows.

Menorca also lags on fixed broadband: 86.6 percent of the population covered at 100 Mbps or more, against a 94.1 percent national average. Telefonica (Movistar) separately claimed 95 percent of the Balearic population covered by 5G as of April 2025, with summer reinforcement in 37 tourist municipalities across the 4 islands. In Formentera, fibre does exist through the local operator ConectaBalear (up to 2 Gbps symmetric in Sant Francesc), rolled out since 2018 with European ERDF funding.

How do you get set up when you have just arrived?

For a prepaid SIM card, your passport is enough, even without Spanish residency. For a standard contract, you also need a Spanish address and often a bank account domiciled in the eurozone. Your NIE is not required immediately: you have up to 3 months after settling to apply for it. On timing, expect 10 to 21 working days for a fibre installation in a new home. One important point if you want to keep your home-country number: there is no consumer-facing international porting between a foreign number and a Spanish operator, Spanish number porting only works between operators within the country. So plan either to keep your home line active on roaming (or an international plan) or to switch to a new Spanish number.

Frequently asked questions

Can you keep your home-country phone number when you move to the Balearics?

Technically, no consumer-facing international porting exists between a foreign operator and a Spanish one: you can keep your home line active (often on roaming or via an international plan) alongside a new Spanish number.

Do you need a NIE to take out an internet or mobile plan?

Not necessarily for a prepaid SIM card, a passport is enough. For a standard contract with a commitment, a Spanish address is generally required, but the NIE is officially only required within 3 months of settling.

For the next steps in settling in, our guide to becoming a resident in the Balearics and our article on what insurance to take out round out this practical picture.

Prices and coverage figures change; check current offers and coverage maps with each provider before you sign. Information verified in August 2026. The Daily Baleares is an AI-assisted publication with human review.