Vodafone’s 5G network in Spain is set to cover 82% of the population and reach 2,700 municipalities by the end of the year, a performance the operator says will surpass its mandatory rollout requirements.
The company leverages the 700 MHz frequency band to boost coverage, with a particular emphasis on indoor performance. This year, the 5G expansion will include 147 municipalities with fewer than 1,000 residents and 553 municipalities ranging from 1,000 to 50,000 residents.
With a focus on digital inclusion for businesses, citizens, and public administrations, Vodafone Spain explains that the 5G network will eventually blanket 82% of the population and 2,700 municipalities across large urban centers, smaller towns, and rural areas. The goal is to narrow the digital divide and ensure connectivity for all, especially those in the greatest need.
Looking at the geographic spread, the majority of the additional 700 municipalities will be in Andalusia (182), followed by Castile and León (119), Galicia (71), Extremadura (68), Catalonia (52), Castile-La Mancha (42), Valencia Community (32), Aragon (30), Navarre (21), Cantabria (17), Basque Country (15), La Rioja (11), Murcia (10), Asturias (9), and seven each in Madrid, the Canary Islands, and the Balearic Islands.
On the 4G front, the network already covers 99.62% of Spain’s population, and during the 2022-23 financial year around 1,100 new 4G deployments in the 800 MHz band were brought into service. In addition, the technology continues to evolve with 4G+ (LTE-A), which is now available in 2,739 municipalities, and VoLTE, which accounts for more than half of the voice minutes.
Citation: Vodafone Spain confirms broad 5G expansion, highlighting the gains in rural and urban connectivity and ongoing 4G enhancements that support overall network performance and voice services.