Spain is a developed country. The communication system is also much developed in Spain. The communication system in Spain comprise of Telecommunication system, postal system , Internet. Media as a mode of communication deals both in print and electronic media.
In early days, Spain had loopholes in the media system. The newspaperpublished since 1905 had many demerits, as they were quite costly and the reality was often disguised. Although the scenario changed with the democratic rule in Spain and after a new daily was launched in the year 1976, named El Pais. In the Spanish constitution, as per Article 20, freedom of expression was restored, which gave rise to many leading dailies.
Even today in Spain, Radio as a mode of communication is given more importance as Newspaper continues to be expensive and boring at times.
The postal service of Spain was famous for its inefficient duty but on a positive note Postal service of Spain has improved over the years. Spanish post offices are known as Correo. Post offices in Spain are located in the center of the city and have working hours from 8 am to 7.30 pm with a break of 5 hours in between. The main post offices of the cities do not close at noon and continues to work throughout the 12 hrs working schedule.
The telephone system in Spain as a mode of communication is quite popular and is run by the state. The public phones can be used either by card or coin. The telephone cards are easily available with the post offices,kiosks, news agents and even at some tobacco shops. Country code for Spain is 34 . Telefonica provides the main telephone landlines service in Spain. Internet facility is also available.
telephones- main lines in use:
20.057 million (2009)
telephones- mobile cellular:
telephone general assessment:
general assessment: well developed, modern facilities; fixed-line teledensity is roughly 50 per 100 persons
domestic: combined fixed-line and mobile-cellular teledensity is nearly 175 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 34; submarine cables provide connectivity to Europe, Middle East, Asia, and US; satellite earth stations - 2 Intelsat (1 Atlantic Ocean and 1 Indian Ocean), NA Eutelsat; tropospheric scatter to adjacent countries
broadcast media:
a mixture of both publicly-operated and privately-owned TV and radio stations broadcasting; overall, hundreds of TV channels are available including national, regional, local, public, and international channels; satellite and cable TV systems are accessible; multiple national radio networks, a large number of regional radio networks, and a larger number of local radio stations broadcasting; overall, hundreds of radio stations operating (2008)
internet country code:
.es
internet hosts:
internet users:
28.119 million (2009)
country comparison to the world: 14
Communication:
During the first thirty years of the Francoist dictatorship, the press was subjected to severe previous censorship. Spanish newspaper journalists tended to disguise whatever real news. All that started to change with the arrival of democracy and, more specifically, with the launching of a new national daily, El País, in 1976. When it first appeared, El País came as a refreshing alternative to the leading daily of the time, the conservative ABC (established in 1905). The Spanish Constitution in 1978 recognizes and protects freedom of expression in its Article 20.
Readership of newspapers in Spain has traditionally been among the lowest in Europe. This was not because Spaniards were uninterested in news, but because Spanish newspapers have generally been boring and expensive. Most Spaniards still see radio as a more reliable and entertaining source of information.
Though renowned for slow delivery the Correo or Spanish post office vastly improved over the past years. Post offices (Oficinas de Correos) are generally found near the centre of towns and are normally open from 8am to noon and again from 5 to 7.30pm, though big branches in large cities may have considerably longer hours and usually do not close at midday.
The telephone system in Spain is dominated by the formerly state-owned Telefónica. The international access code for Spain is +34. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Public telephones are either coin or card (tarjetas telefónicas) operated. Telephone cards can be purchased in post offices, newsagents and kiosks or tobacco stores (estancos) that have the sign Tabacos outside.
Readership of newspapers in Spain has traditionally been among the lowest in Europe. This was not because Spaniards were uninterested in news, but because Spanish newspapers have generally been boring and expensive. Most Spaniards still see radio as a more reliable and entertaining source of information.
Though renowned for slow delivery the Correo or Spanish post office vastly improved over the past years. Post offices (Oficinas de Correos) are generally found near the centre of towns and are normally open from 8am to noon and again from 5 to 7.30pm, though big branches in large cities may have considerably longer hours and usually do not close at midday.
The telephone system in Spain is dominated by the formerly state-owned Telefónica. The international access code for Spain is +34. The outgoing code is 00 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 0044 for the United Kingdom). Public telephones are either coin or card (tarjetas telefónicas) operated. Telephone cards can be purchased in post offices, newsagents and kiosks or tobacco stores (estancos) that have the sign Tabacos outside.
Telephones:
Public telephones are either coin or card (tarjetas telefónicas) operated. Telephone cards can be purchased in post offices, newsagents and kiosks or tobacco stores (estancos) that have the sign Tabacos outside. Cabins and other phones have been adapted to take the euro currency but you're best off buying a phone card (from a kiosko or tabac ) of €6 or €12. Phoning within Spain is cheaper after 6pm and all weekend for metropolitan and inter-provincial calls.
For international calls there are several calling card companies that operate using pre-paid cards and these cost significantly less than calling using coins. International rates are slightly cheaper between midnight and 8am; the reduced rates apply all day on Saturday and Sunday.
The telephone system in Spain is dominated by the formerly state-owned Telefónica, which also operates public phone sites (locutorios) where you pay the attendant at the end of your call. Spanish public phones work well and have instructions in English. If you can't find one, many bars also have pay phones you can use.
With regard to cellphones, Spain uses GSM 900/1800 mobile phones (teléfono movil) a system which is compatible with the rest of Europe, but not with North America or Japan.
For international calls there are several calling card companies that operate using pre-paid cards and these cost significantly less than calling using coins. International rates are slightly cheaper between midnight and 8am; the reduced rates apply all day on Saturday and Sunday.
The telephone system in Spain is dominated by the formerly state-owned Telefónica, which also operates public phone sites (locutorios) where you pay the attendant at the end of your call. Spanish public phones work well and have instructions in English. If you can't find one, many bars also have pay phones you can use.
With regard to cellphones, Spain uses GSM 900/1800 mobile phones (teléfono movil) a system which is compatible with the rest of Europe, but not with North America or Japan.
one of the most popular cell phone stores
Email:
One of the best (and cheapest) ways to keep in touch while travelling is to sign up for a free internet email address that can be accessed from anywhere. Gmail (www.gmail.com), YahooMail (mail.yahoo.com) and Hotmail (www.hotmail.com) are the best choices. Once you've set up an account, you can use these sites to pick up and send mail from any internet café or hotel with internet access.
Email and internet access is available at internet cafes (more commonly referred to as cibercafés in Spanish) in most towns and resorts. Prices vary; in cities hourly rates can be as little as €1.80, rising to around €6 in some smaller towns.
Internet:
Internet:
The average Internet speed in Spain is 1024/300 kbps, costing €20 to €39 per month for an unmetered line. Faster connections up to 8 Mbps are available, but the price is considerably higher (€150 for 8 Mbps). However, over the last 2 years companies like Jazztel, Wanadoo or Ya.com are offering packs including Television+Phone calls+ADSL up to 20 Mb for 20€-30€ a month.
Several companies, including Comunitel and Direct Telecom offer ADSL and VoIP (Internet Telephony) packages. As VoIP is becoming the norm in most of the world, Direct Telecom, from humble beginnings in 2000, is slowly overtaking the other big fish and getting a large percentage of the broadband market. Also, Telefonica, Jazztel, and Wanadoo all provide DSL based television services (Imagenio, Jazztelia TV and Wanadoo TV respectively).
Several companies, including Comunitel and Direct Telecom offer ADSL and VoIP (Internet Telephony) packages. As VoIP is becoming the norm in most of the world, Direct Telecom, from humble beginnings in 2000, is slowly overtaking the other big fish and getting a large percentage of the broadband market. Also, Telefonica, Jazztel, and Wanadoo all provide DSL based television services (Imagenio, Jazztelia TV and Wanadoo TV respectively).
Media:
Readership of newspapers in Spain has traditionally been among the lowest in Europe. This was not because Spaniards were uninterested in news, but because Spanish newspapers have generally been boring and overpriced. Most Spaniards still see radio as a more reliable and entertaining source of information.
Of the Spanish newspapers the best are the centre-left El País and the centre-right El Mundo , both of which have good arts and foreign news coverage, including comprehensive regional "what's on" listings and supplements every weekend.
El País laid the ground rules for modern Spanish news reporting, including double-checking sources and the use of a clear, readable style. With a circulation of around 450,000 copies, it is the best-selling national general newspaper in Spain (though outsold by the sports daily Marca).
Of the Spanish newspapers the best are the centre-left El País and the centre-right El Mundo , both of which have good arts and foreign news coverage, including comprehensive regional "what's on" listings and supplements every weekend.
El País laid the ground rules for modern Spanish news reporting, including double-checking sources and the use of a clear, readable style. With a circulation of around 450,000 copies, it is the best-selling national general newspaper in Spain (though outsold by the sports daily Marca).
Modern technology allowed the Madrid-based nationals to launch regional editions, but local and regional papers thrived none the less, including Catalonia's two leading titles, the long-established La Vanguardia and the newer El Periodico. Nationalist press includes Avui in Catalunya, printed largely in Catalan, and the Basque papers El Correo Español del Pueblo Vasco, Deia and Gara.
Radio, too, has undergone a boom. Spanish talk radio stars are the best-paid journalists in the country. Control of the major radio networks has been the object of high-level maneuvring, with such unlikely players as the Spanish telephone company, the Catholic Church and Spain's National Organization for the Blind.
Spanish Newspapers:
Official news agency.
Cultural and lifestyle magazine.
Barcelona's alternative monthly newspaper covering events in Barcelona with articles in English, Spanish and Catalan.
Biweekly newspaper providing news from Canary Islands.
Costa Brava newspaper for Roses, St. Margarida, Cadaques, Llanca, Colera, Portbou, Figueres, Pau, Vilajuiga.
Major Spain's English language newspaper providing local and national news.
Magazine for the Costa Tropical region, distributed between La Rabita and Salobrena.
Magazine for lifestyle, food, shopping and Marbella happenings.
Five weekly editions in English, covering Costa del Sol, Costa Blanca, Costa de Almeria and Mallorca.
Provides local and international news and feature articles on topics relevant to expatriates.
Weekly online English language newspaper for the residents of Corralejo, Fuerteventura.
Guide to Ibiza island.
Local weekly news, views and entertainment.
Monthly magazine offering information on what's going on where in Madrid.
Canary Islands news, classifieds, and property information.
News for expats living on the Costa Blanca.
Monthly lifestyle magazine.
Magazine about living in Andalucia, laws, travel, places to see, more.
Tenerife news in English, updated daily.
Daily news and information for residents in the Balearic Islands.
Online newspaper with Mallorca news, sport, property and features.
Regularly updated news about Tenerife and the Canary Islands.
Weekly newspaper published in Malaga.
Andalucia's English language newspaper covering the whole of Granada province.
Business, political and social news daily.
Local newspaper serving the western Costa del Sol specifically aimed at English speakers residing in Manilva, Sabinillas, Puerto Duquesa, Casares, Estepona and La Cancelada.
News from Costa Blanca.
Free monthly magazine on the Costa del Sol providing local information, business directory and humor features.
Comprehensive Spanish football website in English.
Weekly news from Costa Almeria, Costa Blanca, Costa Calida, Roquetas and Almerimar.
Provides the latest news about Spain in English.
News from Fuerteventura, Canary Islands.
Weekly newspaper for Southern Spain.
Newspaper providing local and national news.
Web portal about Spain for residents and visitors alike. Information about living in Spain with news and features, property, clubs, culture and channels.
Malaga-based newspaper covering the Costa del Sol.
Spain's leading English language information portal with free classifieds, forums, Spanish news, and more.
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