Spain to Require Four Hours of Mobile Service During Power Blackouts

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Spain to Require Four Hours of Mobile Service During Power Blackouts

By CircleID Reporter
June 26, 2026, 1:08 pm PDT Views: 128 Add Comment

Spain mandates four-hour mobile coverage backups to keep most residents connected during power outages nationwide.

Spain will require telecommunications operators to keep mobile networks running for up to four hours during electricity outages under a new Royal Decree on the security and resilience of electronic communications and digital infrastructure, the government has announced. The measure is expected to be approved before the end of 2026 and will be introduced in stages.

Phased rollout: The new rules will require operators to install backup batteries capable of maintaining mobile coverage for 50% of the population in the first year after the decree takes effect, rising to 65% in the second year and 75% by the third. The phased approach is intended to give operators time to invest while improving the resilience of critical communications.

The decree also introduces stricter standards for telecommunications infrastructure. Regional management centres will need sufficient backup power to remain operational for at least 12 hours, while the most critical national control centres must be able to function for 24 hours without grid electricity.

Emergency communications are a central focus of the reforms. Operators serving Spain’s 112 emergency system will be required to submit security and resilience plans and adopt network redundancy measures, enabling emergency call centres to maintain service even if one network or technology fails.

Broader scope: The regulations will apply to telecoms operators and major digital infrastructure providers—including certain data centres, submarine cable operators, satellite systems and internet exchange points—meeting specified size thresholds or designated as critical service providers. National security and defence networks are excluded.

Digital Transformation Minister Óscar López described the initiative as a new “digital right” and framed it as part of Spain’s broader strategy to strengthen technological sovereignty through investment in resilient digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence and advanced technologies.

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By CircleID Reporter — CircleID’s internal staff reporting on news tips and developing stories. Do you have information the professional Internet community should be aware of? Contact us.
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