A major power outage that swept across all Spain on the 28th of April significantly impacted the country’s mobile network infrastructure, leaving millions without service for several hours.
The blackout, which began around 12:30p.m local time, affected both urban and rural areas, with Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, and Seville among the hardest hit. All major mobile operators — including Movistar, Vodafone, Orange, and MásMóvil — reported nationwide disruptions to their voice and data services.
Network Infrastructure Down
According to sources from the telecommunications sector, the blackout disrupted power supply to multiple mobile network towers and data centers, causing widespread signal loss and service degradation. Backup power systems were deployed, but were insufficient in some regions due to the scale and unexpected duration of the outage.
Movistar, Spain’s largest operator, stated in a press release: “We are experiencing technical difficulties caused by the power outage. Our teams are working closely with national authorities and utility companies to restore full network functionality as quickly as possible.”
Emergency Services Affected
Local authorities confirmed that the blackout briefly disrupted emergency communication systems in some areas, raising concerns over public safety and emergency response times. Hospitals and critical infrastructure switched to generator power to maintain essential services.
Public Reaction and Ongoing Investigations
Social media platforms were flooded with complaints and concerns from users unable to make calls, access the internet, or use mobile payment apps. Businesses, especially those relying on mobile connectivity, also reported serious interruptions to their operations.
The cause of the blackout is still under investigation. The Spanish government has launched an urgent inquiry in coordination with Red Eléctrica and the Ministry for the Ecological Transition.
As of 10:30p.m., power was restored in most areas, but mobile service remains patchy in some zones. Full recovery was completed in the following days.
