Vodafone España has given a strong boost to its prepaid mobile phone business, recording an advance of 2.9% and reaching a share of 25.8% in August, compared with the 22.9% with which it closed December 2025, as the company has detailed in a statement released this Wednesday.
With this rebound, the operator highlights that it positions itself as "the operator that has grown the most in nine months", until reaching 2.2 million prepaid lines. The firm links this advance to the "record year" that tourism in Spain is experiencing.
"Between January and August, nearly 70.4 million international tourists visited Spain, 5.4% more than in the same period of 2025, and for these travelers, having a connection upon arrival makes it possible to consult maps, manage bookings, use transport, or stay in touch with family", the multinational has said, which considers that this demand "opens up an opportunity" for prepaid proposals focused on those who need data for a few days or weeks. In addition, Vodafone figures "back up" that the acquisition and integration of distributor Sercom, completed in April 2025, has strengthened its position in this segment.
At present, the company has a network of more than 9,000 points of sale dedicated to prepaid, covering multi-brand phone stores, phone booths, and shops located in ports and airports. In these spaces, it offers plans with eSIM that include voice, data, international calls, and roaming from 10 euros per month.
The physical network is complemented by digital contracting: while the establishments allow service to be purchased and receive in-person advice, the eSIM makes it possible for the customer to set up and manage their connection directly from the phone. In this area, Vodafone launched in April DataOnly, a prepaid data-only eSIM aimed at international travelers, students, and foreign professionals, with a registration process that is fully online.
This growth comes in a "market that is changing". "Prepaid is no longer limited to topping up balance to make calls: current offers combine large data packages, international calls, and roaming with the possibility of controlling spending in advance", the company has pointed out, highlighting that traditional users are now joined by tourists, students, and foreign workers who require connectivity during temporary stays in Spain.
Finally, Vodafone recalls that, although prepaid has traditionally been perceived as a lower-value segment, due to its limited revenues and higher churn, it also allows operators to obtain attractive margins per customer thanks to very low acquisition costs.
"The evolution of its uses and the ease of digital contracting add new opportunities to a business that maintains control of spending and flexibility as its main attractions," the company concludes.