Life in Galicia

Every now and than I get asked about Internet and connectivity here in the Ribeira Sacra – rural Galicia.

This article is January 2010 and specific to this area.

There are now some more opportunities to avoid staring at a blank screen and having a useless plug.

Still, if you have a telephone line or line very nearby, chances are you are outside the coverage of ADSL(2+). Yes, it goes a couple of more miles than the old ADSL, but try following a telephone line and you soon know why it wont reach you.

Land line
I’m one of the few lucky ones as we bought an ADSL line with a house attached and are just within reach (the signal is pretty low but works).
To check if there maybe ADSL vial land-line you can use Telefonicas check -> Telefonica check ADSL
There are some alternatives to Telefonica like Ya.com and others. But compared to the UK the pricing here in Spain is on the expensive side, although if you get land-line connectivity its generally great as there is not much contention.

TRACK
So it is important to ask if a land line exists. The old radio phones (TRACK), if aligned correctly, work, but will give you about 42k connectivity, whilst blocking the phone for calls. Again it is important to have the alignment checked, as otherwise you will suffer frequent disconnects. But just for e-mail and a bit surfing this can be OK. If you are frequently near your concello see casual use.

Servicio Satélite Rural
If you don’t have an LMDS (Local Multipoint Distribution Service) in line of sight, pretty unusual given the hilly nature here, there is an offer to have bidirectional Internet via satellite.
This can give you up to 2MB and allows you to plug it into a wireless router, thus giving access to multiple PC’s simultaneously. There is latency involved as the signal travels a bit so such connection is not useful should you require VoIP (Voice over IP calls).
At the time of writing this is about 40 Euros/month.

Mobile / G3
Telefonica has more masts than Voda, Voda has more than Orange,  all offer Internet via dongle. Speeds can reach 4-800Kbs. Flat rate pricing seems to run around the 45/50 Euro mark, giving 5GB a month and than, should you have used that, simply slow down without further charges. The cheaper packages offer 1GB but excess usage is charged quite steeply. FON(the foneros master site) now offers a router that allows plugging in a mobile dongle and redistribute as full WiFi and some more useful parts like a print server, etc.

Casual use / whilst ravelling
WiFi is adopted like there is no tomorrow. If you are travelling and for casual use, most concellos have a computer room and also WiFi outside or in the building. A lot of bars and cafee’s also have hot spots. You may find a neighbor agreeable to share Internet or an installation of FON. In bigger cities and build up areas you often finf an unsecured open signal. 
It’s easy to find out where there are hot spots I use Netstumbler a small application that gives me readings of what is available and if its secured or open. Than I simply connect.
If you live here, connect but intend to or have to travel a lot installing a FON (router) and making use of the many free hot spots is also worth a thought.

Update: For casual use or use for limited time Voda offers packages based on pay as you go. Check their site – E.G. existing phone text a code to a certain number gives you 7 day unlimited for 19 Euro etc. or buy an donge and top up…. There are too many possible combinations, best to check the net.

If you stay with us in the Casa de Floresyou will have free WiFi and if you only want to check some mail there is always a Laptop available for casual use.
You also welcome to just drop in with your LapTop. 

Please note this article is specifically for rural Galicia and written January 2010.
Be aware that nearly all quoted prices here in Spain are propmotional offers and have a time limit.
Don’t forget Spain and thus Galicia are in Europe and if you buy something and it wont work you have the cooling off period and can insist on simply giving it back.

Expat

 Update (Jan/2010) : WIMAX the plan to blanket the province of Lugo with wireless Internet at a reasonable price incl. telephony has just been canned.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 6th, 2010 at 2:44 pm and is filed under Financial, Internet. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.