Movistar eSIM — coverage, plans & network
Spain & Latin America
Key highlights
- Launched in 1995 as Telefónica’s mobile brand in Spain
- Owned by Telefónica, one of Europe’s largest telecom groups
- Largest mobile, fixed broadband and pay-TV operator in Spain (~41% mobile share)
- 5G network reaches 95% of the Spanish population (Telefónica, 2025)
- Active in several Spanish-speaking Latin American markets
- Most-awarded operator in Opensignal’s February 2025 Spain Mobile Network Experience Report
About the operator
Movistar is the consumer mobile, fixed broadband and pay-TV brand of Spanish telecoms group Telefónica. The brand was launched in 1995 when Telefónica began offering GSM mobile services in Spain, and it was rolled out across Telefónica’s Latin American operations from April 2005 after the group absorbed BellSouth’s South American mobile assets.
Today Movistar is the largest provider of landline, broadband, mobile and pay television (Movistar Plus+) in Spain, where it holds roughly a 41% mobile market share. It also operates in several Spanish-speaking Latin American countries, though Telefónica is divesting many of these units under a 2026-2030 "Transform & Grow" plan that refocuses the group on Spain, the UK, Germany and Brazil.
- Founded
- 1995
- Headquarters
- Spain
- Group
- Telefónica
- Network
- 4G, 5G
- Subscribers
- ~22M in Spain (~41% market share)
Network & technology
Movistar Spain operates 2G, 3G, 4G LTE and 5G, including 5G Standalone (launched July 2023), with 5G deployed on 700 MHz (n28) and 3.5 GHz (n78) plus DSS on 1800/2100 MHz; in February 2025 Opensignal named Movistar the most-awarded Spanish operator, including outright wins for 5G Download Speed (267.4 Mbps average) and overall video, gaming and voice experience.
Reputation & market position
Movistar is widely viewed as Spain’s premium incumbent with the strongest 5G performance in Opensignal benchmarks, but Trustpilot reviews across its Spain, Colombia and Argentina sites are heavily negative, citing billing disputes, hard-to-reach customer support and difficulties for non-Spanish-speaking customers.
Pros
- Best-in-class 5G download speeds in Spain per Opensignal February 2025
- Very wide 5G footprint covering ~95% of the Spanish population
- Backed by Telefónica, with extensive fixed-mobile and TV bundles
Cons
- Heavily negative Trustpilot reviews, with frequent complaints about billing and customer service
- Limited English-language support reported by non-Spanish-speaking customers
- Latin American footprint shrinking as Telefónica exits several markets
Available plans
Spain
See all plansMexico
See all plansArgentina
See all plansEl Salvador
See all plansVenezuela
See all plansCountries covered
Get your Argentina eSIM, Ecuador eSIM, Spain eSIM, Mexico eSIM, Peru eSIM, El Salvador eSIM or Venezuela eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the Movistar network
- 2Pay and receive your eSIM QR code by email
- 3Scan the QR code in your phone's settings to install it
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive
Frequently asked questions
Which countries is Movistar available in?
AviaeSIM offers the Movistar network in 7 countries.
Does AviaeSIM use the Movistar network?
Yes. Some of our eSIM plans run on the Movistar network.
How do I get an eSIM for the Movistar network?
Pick your destination country, buy a plan and activate it with a QR code — no physical SIM required.
Do I need a physical SIM for Movistar?
No — an AviaeSIM eSIM installs digitally via QR code, and your phone keeps its main SIM.
How much does an Movistar eSIM cost?
AviaeSIM plans on the Movistar network start from $2.34.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-05