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Spain - Market Intelligence Report
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Market Intelligence Reports provide an invaluable mix of vital market data and background information, including telecoms regulation. Spain's telecommunications market is dominated by the national incumbent operator, Telefónica de España, which has operated since 1924. The government reduced its stake in Telefónica to 20.94% in October 1995. In January 1997, it sold the majority of its remaining stake in addition to its holding in Telefónica Internacional SA (TISA), the Telefónica subsidiary dealing with international businesses, so that Telefónica is now 100% privately-owned and TISA is 100%-owned by Telefónica. The government holds a "golden share" in Telefónica, giving it the right to accept or veto share sales and transfers. Regulation in the industry is the responsibility of the Comisión del Mercado de las Telecomunicaciones (Telecommunications Market Commission) or CMT, which was established by royal decree in 1996 and permitted broadcasting company Retevisión to enter the telecommunications market as a fixed-line competitor to Telefónica. In April 1998, the government passed the General Telecommunications Law, bringing the Spanish telecommunications environment fully in line with European Union (EU) requirements. The General Telecommunications Law was updated in November 2003 to bring it into line with new EU directives. Telefónica and Retevisión were the only holders of fixed voice network licences in Spain until May 1998, when the CMT announced the third licence-holder as Uni2, now wholly-owned by France Telecom. Subsequently, many smaller fixed-line operators have been licensed, including JazzTel and Grupo ONO, though none have yet to seriously impact on Telefónica's market-leading position. Telefónica Móviles and Airtel Móvil were the only two operators in Spain with GSM digital mobile cellular communications licences until June 1998, when the CMT awarded the third digital cellular licence to the Retevisión/Telecom Italia-backed Retevisión Móvil consortium. [Retevisión and Retevisión Móvil later became part of the Auna group of companies; in 2005, the Auna group was broken up into its fixed-line and wireless businesses and these were sold to the highest bidders.] In March 2000, four third-generation (3G) universal mobile telecommunications system (UMTS) mobile licences were awarded to the three existing cellular operators with the addition of Xfera, a joint venture initially headed by Vivendi Universal of France, Sonera of Finland (now TeliaSonera), and a number of Spanish partners. During 2003, Vivendi sold its investment in Xfera, and the company is now controlled by Spanish companies and TeliaSonera. Nevertheless, there was speculation throughout 2005 that Hutchison Whampoa would take a significant shareholding in the company, possibly ranging from 51% to 63%. Xfera had until June 2006 to begin offering services otherwise the CMT would rescind its licence. In June 2006, TeliaSonera reached an agreement to increase its ownership in Xfera Móviles from 16.55% to 80%. By acquiring a controlling interest in the company, TeliaSonera said it would launch mobile operations and planned to roll-out a UMTS network, in accordance with the existing licence conditions. In October 2006, Xfera Móviles completed the first call using over its UMTS network, and the Yoigo commercial service was launched at the beginning of December 2006. The goal is to have a market share of less than 1% at the end of 2007. The long-term ambition is to reach a market share of approximately 10% by 2015.
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