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The history of telecommunications in Spain is a fascinating tale of technical progress, social transformation, and corporate consolidation. From the early optical systems of the 19th century to the cloud infrastructures of the 21st century, each stage reflects the advancements of a society in constant evolution. This journey, spanning nearly two centuries, shows how Spain has progressed from optical semaphore signals and copper wires to global connectivity and cloud digital services, forever changing how we communicate, work, and access information.
1. The Origins of Telecommunications (19th Century – 1960)
The first telecommunications system in Spain was the optical telegraph, introduced in 1844. It used signaling towers with semaphores to transmit messages through visual combinations. Although rudimentary, it allowed for quick communication over long distances and was used for military and administrative purposes. It was soon replaced by the electric telegraph, propelled by the Telegraph Act of 1855. This change marked a significant leap in reliability and speed, enabling almost instantaneous transmission of written messages for the first time.
Telephony began its journey in 1884 with the installation of the first line between the Royal Palace and the Ministry of War. The National Telephone Company of Spain (CTNE), founded in 1924 with support from ITT, took control of communications. During the post-war period, infrastructures were precarious, with waits of years to obtain a telephone line. Nevertheless, national and international cables were laid, establishing the groundwork for a more modern communications network, with the installation of the first automatic exchanges in large cities and the expansion of long-distance service.
2. From Automatic Telephony to Home Access (1960 – 1985)
The 1960s and 70s witnessed significant modernization. The automation of exchanges allowed users to dial directly without operator intervention, leading to a notable improvement in privacy and efficiency. Services like voicemail, call forwarding, and printed telephone directories were introduced. The number of lines grew exponentially, greatly improving residential service and reducing wait times.
At the same time, the first data transmission services appeared: Telex, X.25 networks, and remote terminal computing through connections to mainframes. More advanced submarine cables and ground stations for satellite communications were also implemented, connecting Spain with the rest of the world. Mobile radiotelephony became a solution for sectors like police, taxis, and emergency services, anticipating later cellular systems. All of this was critical preparation for the future digitalization of communications.
3. The Birth of Data Networks and BBS (1985 – 1995)
During this phase, personal computing joined telecommunications. Modems of 1,200, 2,400, and even 14,400 bps allowed users to connect from home via the PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network). Systems like Ibertex (the Spanish version of Videotex), promoted by Telefónica, emerged, but it was the Bulletin Board Systems (BBS) that marked the real turning point in the emerging digital culture.
BBS were private systems, managed from homes or small offices, where users could exchange messages, software, participate in thematic forums, play online, and download files. Fidonet, an international network of interconnected BBS via scheduled phone calls, provided deferred messaging between countries and access to global interest communities. It was the first distributed system for digital communication among citizens.
In Spain, BBS like STigma V (Ciudad Real), Vico Soft (Alcázar de San Juan), Tiber (Valencia), RafaSTD (Madrid), Abaforum, Arrakis BBS, and EUI-CR BBS flourished. Some reached hundreds of active users and offered services ranging from technical support to turn-based multiplayer games (door games). These platforms represented a true proto-Internet, driven by a community of enthusiasts, pioneers, and self-taught individuals who formed the first civilian digital networks and laid the foundation for the future national online infrastructure.
4. Infovía, the Leap to Internet (1995 – 2000)
With the rise of the Internet, Telefónica launched Infovía in 1995: a switched national network that facilitated Internet access without interprovincial call costs. It enabled the boom of Internet Service Providers (ISPs), democratizing domestic use of the network and allowing thousands of households to discover the web.
Providers like Servicom, CTV, Arrakis, Redestb, and Navegalia competed in a booming market. Later ONO, Retevisión, Ya.com, and Wanadoo would emerge. The average browsing speed with modems reached 56 Kbps, and the first web portals like Recursos Gratis, forums such as Melodysoft, IRC chats, personal pages on services like Geocities, and tools like email, ICQ, and the first online stores appeared.
Users learned to configure modems, navigate with Netscape or Internet Explorer, and download music with Napster. It was the birth of contemporary digital culture. Society began to understand the potential of this new network for education, commerce, leisure, and interpersonal communication.
5. The Explosion of ADSL and Commercial Internet (2000 – 2010)
The arrival of ADSL in the early 2000s marked the end of dial-up connections. Flat rates were offered with initial speeds of 256 Kbps, which quickly escalated to 1, 10, and even 20 Mbps. Telefónica ceased to be the only provider thanks to the liberalization promoted by the CNMC, allowing the growth of operators like Jazztel, ONO, and others.
During this decade, Spanish .com companies consolidated, specialized blogs emerged, digital news websites sprouted, and e-commerce gained traction with platforms like eBay, Amazon, and local stores. Forums such as Forocoches, sites like Softonic or Terra marked a generation. P2P downloads via eMule and BitTorrent also became popular.
Instant messaging (MSN Messenger), the first smartphones, and social networks such as Fotolog, Tuenti, and Facebook radically changed the way people communicated. Streaming video began to emerge timidly with YouTube, while mobile broadband services gained prominence.
6. From Broadband to 5G: Total Convergence (2010 – Present)
Fiber optic to the home (FTTH) began to be deployed on a large scale starting in 2010, improving the stability and speed of connections to hundreds of megabits and then gigabits. At the same time, mobile networks evolved to 4G and 5G, allowing ubiquitous access from mobile phones, tablets, and connected devices, boosting the phenomenon of teleworking and the mass consumption of audiovisual content.
The cloud (cloud computing) has completely transformed the business and technological landscape. Tools like Office 365, Google Workspace, and platforms like AWS, Azure, or Stackscale enable server virtualization, process automation, and large-scale remote work. The concept of Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) has replaced the traditional physical data center in many organizations.
Artificial intelligence, IoT, cybersecurity, and OTT services (like Netflix or Spotify) are shaping a new hyper-connected era. Operators like Telefónica, Orange, Vodafone, Digi, and Grupo Aire have been key in recent evolution, driving both infrastructure and new business models.
Current challenges revolve around network sustainability, European digital sovereignty, technological literacy, and net neutrality. The future is already being written in the lines of code traveling through fiber and waves, and in the data centers that support the new digital economy.
Sources Consulted:
- RedIRIS (rediris.es)
- National Museum of Science and Technology (MUNCYT)
- Reports from Fundación Telefónica and Fundesco
- Historical Archive of Goya Telematic Services
- Press articles from El País, La Vanguardia, and Cinco Días
- Internet Archive and Spanish Web Archive (BNE)
- ETSIT (UPM) and technical publications on telecommunications regulation
- CNMC and CMT
- Technical documentation from Fidonet, catalogs of Spanish BBS, and historical compilations in specialized forums and portals