- The limitations, established at the beginning of the alarm state, were intended to restrict physical movements, both for the user and for the technicians of the telecommunications companies, and thus reduce the risks of transmission of the coronavirus.
- Within the Plan for the transition to a new normality, the elimination of portability restrictions will reactivate the telecommunications market and increase the users' ability to choose.
- The measures approved today also include a procedure to facilitate the payment of defaults that the user has incurred during the state of alarm during which operators have been obliged to maintain the service.
May 26, 2020.- The Council of Ministers today approved the elimination of limitations on users to change operators while keeping their phone number, which is known as portability. This restriction was adopted in an extraordinary situation and its objective was to contribute to face the health crisis of COVID-19, limiting physical movements, both for the user and for the technicians of the telecommunications companies.
This measure contributed to the protection of the health of citizens and to the containment of the progression of the pandemic, maintaining the provision of electronic communication services and guaranteeing connectivity.
The measures that have been adopted during the state of alarm have enabled Spain, at the present time, to begin a process of gradual reduction of extraordinary measures to restrict mobility. The Plan for the transition to a new normality, approved on April 28, 2020, foresees the gradual reactivation of all sectors of the economy.
Once the entire national territory is already in Phase 1 or Phase 2, the elimination of the portability restrictions will allow the telecommunications market to recover its dynamism and full operation and, at the same time, the capacity of the citizenry will be restored to choose the services that best suit your needs.
Once the Royal Decree-law approved today comes into force, article 20 of Royal Decree-Law 8/2020, of March 17, will be repealed and only the extraordinary obligation remains for operators not to interrupt electronic communications, as they are essential services, until the alarm status is terminated, even in the case of subscribers who have not made the payment.
For this reason, the measures approved today include a procedure that makes it easy for subscribers to meet outstanding bills in a flexible way.
Electronic communications operators will be obliged to offer a fractionation and deferment of the debt that their subscribers may have incurred from the start date of the state of alarm and until June 30, 2020. The deadline for making fractional payments will be of six months, unless the subscriber has freely agreed with the operator a different term and no interest can be accrued for delay or guarantees will be required for the installment and deferment.
