Originally Posted by chris(madrid)

It all depends on where the "exchanges" are. There is a physical wire limitation for DSL. Only needs the (for example) YA boxes to be 1Km futher away that TF and BANG - no service. BUT they often only tell you after you've swapped. I know places in Madrid city without ADSL that are 10metres away from places with - because the wires have to go 6kms down a railway line then back.

There are a series of iniciatives to help underway. One is subsidising WiFi "meshes" in small towns/villages.

There are (be warned) a series of issues using non-Telefonica suppliers, should you ever decide to (or have to) go back to TF. First TF will take their own sweet time - and in rural areas have been known to run out of circuits so though you have a wire it cant get a number.

Plus some of the "others" are infamous for NOT disconnecting their accounting - and keep billing despite having disconnected. If you do have to go through this then make sure that you send ALL correspondance CERTIFIED and make sure your bank gets a copy so that any debits can be cancelled.

BE VERY SURE BEFORE COMING OFF TF.