Fourteen telecommunications companies and trade associations have asked the European Commission to step in and review the terms of access to Telefónica’s ducts and conduits. The initiative brings together major operators such as Orange, Vodafone, Aire and Digi, companies specialized in fiber, and industry organizations that reject the former monopoly’s proposal to raise recurring fees by a cumulative amount close to 116% over the proposed period. The signatories are asking Brussels to oversee the process before Spain’s National Markets and Competition Commission (CNMC) adopts a final decision on the regulation.
Telefónica’s price hike in 30 seconds
- Fourteen companies and associations have requested the European Commission’s preventive intervention.
- Telefónica is proposing to change the fees under its MARCo offer, which lets other operators use its conduits.
- The plan includes an initial 30% increase and further annual increases in the years that follow.
- Orange, Vodafone, Digi and other companies warn of possible effects on competition and fiber investment.
- The CNMC must resolve the proceeding and set the final terms, while the signatories want Brussels to examine its compatibility with EU rules.
The dispute concerns infrastructure that usually goes unnoticed by users but is necessary for rolling out much of Spain’s fiber-optic networks. Ducts, manholes, access points and other conduits make it possible to install cables without having to build all the civil works infrastructure from scratch.
Telefónica has an extensive network of this infrastructure and offers access to other operators under regulated terms. The conflict now centers on the price it can charge companies for using that infrastructure and on how much leeway the regulator has to change the current terms.
The 14 companies and associations that have approached Brussels
The initiative brings together telecom operators, industry associations and companies specialized in fiber infrastructure. According to information published by La Vanguardia, the signatories are:
- Aotec, the National Association of Telecommunications Operators.
- Acutelan, the National Association of Local Telecommunications Operators, Infrastructure and Television Broadcasters in Spain.
- Orange España, a telecom operator offering fiber, mobile phone and other connectivity services.
- Vodafone España, a telecom operator with fixed and mobile services.
- Digi España, a telecommunications provider that also rolls out its own fiber network.
- Adamo, an operator active in deploying and marketing connectivity services.
- Avatel Telecom, a company specialized in telecommunications with a presence in the fiber market.
- Astel, the Association of Telecommunications Operating and Service Companies.
- Onivia, a wholesale fiber-optic infrastructure company.
- Lyntia Networks, a wholesale infrastructure and connectivity provider.
- Colt Technology, a connectivity and network services company for businesses.
- Aire Networks, a wholesale operator that offers telecommunications services and infrastructure to other providers.
- Premiumfiber, a company involved in deploying and operating fiber networks.
- Elanta, a company among the signatories of the initiative.
The letter is addressed to European Commission officials responsible for technological sovereignty, communications networks and competition. Its recipients include Henna Virkkunen, Executive Vice-President for Tech Sovereignty, Security and Democracy; Teresa Ribera, Executive Vice-President for Competition; Roberto Viola, Director-General for Communications Networks, Content and Technology; and Anthony Whelan, Director-General for Competition.
The signatories are asking the European Commission to intervene before the CNMC closes the proceeding. They are also asking Brussels to rigorously examine the compatibility of any regulatory change with EU law and to exercise its oversight powers if it deems it necessary.
The request reflects the position of the companies and associations that signed the letter. It does not mean that the European Commission has agreed to intervene or has ordered the proceeding suspended.
What Telefónica wants to change in its MARCo offer
The wholesale offer for access to manholes and ducts, known as MARCo, sets the technical and economic terms under which other operators can use Telefónica’s physical infrastructure for their fiber rollouts.
The CNMC oversees this offer and determines the applicable regulatory terms. In June 2025, the regulator approved a review that raised average recurring monthly fees by 11% and setup and other non-recurring fees by 14.6%. The decision came just weeks after the CNMC freed Telefónica from having to share its fiber network following 26 years of regulation, part of a broader shift in how the regulator treats the operator’s infrastructure.
The new dispute stems from the commitments proposal Telefónica submitted to the CNMC on June 15, 2026. According to documentation published by the regulator, the company is proposing a five-year term, extendable by one additional year, and a staggered update of recurring fees.
The proposal includes an initial 30% increase over current prices, annual increases of 16.96% over the following three years, and adjustments in line with projected inflation (CPI) of 2% in the last two years. Non-recurring fees would remain unchanged.
The roughly 116% increase at the center of the criticism corresponds to the cumulative effect of the proposed updates over the period in question, not an immediate hike of that size. Whether these changes are ultimately applied depends on how the regulatory proceeding is resolved.
Telefónica is proposing a price update along with multi-year contract terms. The operators that have gone to Brussels believe the increase could raise the cost of accessing infrastructure that remains necessary to compete in the fiber market.
The cost of ducts could affect fiber rollout
The importance of MARCo becomes clearer when looking at the scale of the infrastructure. In June 2025, the CNMC reported that around 370 operators were using this offer to access more than 120,000 kilometers of sub-ducts and more than two million manholes.
This infrastructure allows companies to roll out cables by using existing conduits. Without that option, many operators would have to take on new civil works, negotiate alternative access, or limit their investment in certain areas.
A fee increase could raise costs for companies that use large volumes of infrastructure. The effect will depend on each operator, the size of its network and the final economic terms that are approved.
The signatories argue that prices should remain tied to costs and reject easing Telefónica’s regulatory obligations. In their view, changing the terms could harm alternative operators’ investments and alter competition in connectivity services.
They also argue that market conditions have not changed enough to justify modifying the current framework on the proposed terms. These claims are part of the position put forward by the companies and will need to be assessed within the regulatory proceeding.
The CNMC will have to examine the proposals and submissions presented, in addition to applying the relevant competition criteria and regulatory obligations. The request for European intervention adds an EU dimension to the debate, but it does not replace the Spanish regulator’s authority to resolve the case. The outcome arrives as Telefónica’s regulatory position in Spain keeps shifting on several fronts: the operator is also set to stop being the country’s universal telecom service operator in 2027.
The outcome will affect the economic terms for accessing infrastructure used by numerous operators. It will also determine how civil works costs are shared and what conditions companies must meet to use Telefónica’s conduit network for their fiber rollouts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which companies have asked Brussels to intervene?
The signatories are Aotec, Acutelan, Orange España, Vodafone España, Digi España, Adamo, Avatel Telecom, Astel, Onivia, Lyntia Networks, Colt Technology, Aire Networks, Premiumfiber and Elanta.
How much does Telefónica want to raise the rental price of its conduits?
The proposal includes an initial 30% increase in recurring fees, followed by annual increases of 16.96% over three years and 2% adjustments in the last two. The cumulative increase comes to close to 116% over the period in question.
What is the MARCo offer?
It is the wholesale offer that sets the technical and economic terms for other operators to access Telefónica’s manholes, access points and ducts so they can roll out their own fiber networks.
Who ultimately decides access prices?
The CNMC is the body responsible for resolving the regulatory proceeding. The companies have asked the European Commission to oversee the process and examine the compatibility of the changes with EU rules.
