A widespread outage of internet and mobile services paralyzed parts of the interior of Málaga province on Thursday. Antequera, Ronda and Coín were particularly affected. According to current information, a total of more than 120,000 people were affected by the disruption.
Spain Expat Press Editorial Team
by Marlon Gallego Bosbach
In several locations, telephone connections failed alongside mobile data services. The outage had immediate consequences for shops, pharmacies, and public facilities. The exact cause remained unclear at first.
Internet and telephone temporarily unavailable
The service disruption began on Thursday morning and affected various telecommunications services. In parts of Antequera, Ronda, and Coín, neither mobile data nor standard telephone connections were available for a time. Some mobile phones displayed a message indicating that only emergency calls could be made. The severity of the impact varied depending on the service provider.
According to the town hall, the disruption in Antequera began around 10:15 a.m. Initial reports indicate that the connection was largely restored by around 12:30 p.m., though initially with some limitations.
Problems with mobile data, Wi-Fi, and phone calls also occurred in Coín starting around 10 a.m. Connections were gradually restored over the course of the morning.
Ronda affected for an especially long time
In Ronda, the outage lasted significantly longer. Even around midday, large parts of the city were without functioning telephone and internet connections.
Public facilities were also affected. These included, among others, the town hall, the Hospital de la Serranía, and offices of the Andalusian Employment Service (SAE). Civil protection services were also impacted by the communication issues. According to later reports, the connection in Ronda was restored in the afternoon.
Card payments in stores not possible
The disruption was also clearly noticeable in everyday life. Because data networks were down, numerous businesses were temporarily unable to use their card terminals. Consequently, customers sometimes had to resort to cash. Digital payment services and applications requiring an internet connection were also affected.
For companies, the outage therefore meant not only a communication problem but also a direct disruption to ongoing business operations.
Pharmacies also affected
The disruption was particularly significant for pharmacies. Due to the lack of connectivity, it was in some cases impossible to access digital health cards and the systems required for dispensing medication.
As a result, the outage affected areas where a functioning digital infrastructure is essential for daily operations.
Several municipalities in the interior affected
The disruption was not limited solely to the three larger towns. Other municipalities in the Serranía de Ronda also reported problems with telecommunications networks.
Cuevas del Becerro was among the affected municipalities. The extent to which individual locations were affected apparently also depended on the respective telecommunications provider.
Cause of the outage initially unknown
It was initially unclear why the networks failed simultaneously in several municipalities. According to available information, the affected telecommunications companies were working to resolve the outage.
No confirmed explanation for the outage was initially available. At the time of the first reports, there was also no confirmation of a cyberattack or targeted sabotage. Consequently, speculation regarding the cause cannot currently be substantiated.
No power outage
The disruption was not a widespread power outage. The power supply in the affected locations remained intact overall.
The problem lay instead with the telecommunications and data networks. As a result, while many facilities were able to continue operating, they were significantly restricted in their digital processes.
Connection restored during the course of the day
The situation gradually eased over the course of Thursday. In Antequera and Coín, connections were largely restored by midday. Restoration took longer in Ronda. The actual duration of service disruptions varied depending on the location and the provider.
At the same time, the incident demonstrates just how heavily everyday life now depends on functioning mobile and data networks. Within a few hours, several municipalities in the province of Málaga saw disruptions affecting not only communications and the internet but also payment transactions, healthcare services, and public facilities.
