Guide · updated 28 October 2026

Fibre without a contract in Spain: what “sin permanencia” really means

How commitment periods work on Spanish fibre contracts, the limits the law sets, and when a discount is worth more than the freedom to leave.

“Sin permanencia” is the phrase every Spanish broadband advert uses, and one of the most widely misread. It does not mean you can leave at any moment for free. It means there is no early-exit compensation — and that only holds if the contract has no discount tied to a minimum term and no subsidised equipment.

What the commitment actually is

A permanencia is a promise to keep the contract for a set period. Leave earlier and the operator can claim compensation. Spanish law does not ban it, but it does limit it:

• the initial term cannot exceed 24 months;
• you can cancel after the first year with no penalty, even if the contract runs longer;
• any compensation must be proportional to the discount you received or the cost of the equipment, never an arbitrary figure.

The reference is the 2022 General Telecommunications Law (Ley 11/2022). Your own contract is what counts, though: read it before signing and keep a copy where you can find it.

The three usual disguises

1. A discount with a term. “12 months at 50%” usually carries a matching 12-month commitment. Leave early and they claw back the proportional part of the discount. Legal, but know how much you saved and how much you would repay.
2. Subsidised equipment. Router, TV box or free installation can be tied to 12 months. Ask the price of the equipment without subsidy — it is the fastest way to compare.
3. A “commercial” commitment. Some operators charge no compensation but attach conditions (returning promotions, setup fees) that behave the same way in practice. Ask for the exact early-exit amount in writing.

When accepting a commitment makes sense

• The discount saves more than the penalty, and you are not moving house or switching within that period.
• The no-commitment alternative costs more per month than the discount is worth.
• The term is short (3–6 months) and the discount large.

When it does not: if you rent, if your building is waiting for another operator’s rollout, if your work or family situation may change, or if the discount is small — €5/month for a year is €60, and that rarely justifies being tied down.

How to check before you sign

1. Ask for the exact compensation if you cancel in month 1, month 6 and month 13.
2. Ask for the contract length and whether it renews automatically.
3. Separate the promotional price from the later price — the second is what you pay most of the time.
4. Check coverage for your town before comparing prices: a cheap offer that does not reach your building is not an offer.

In short

A commitment is not good or bad; it is a price. If the discount beats the penalty and your life is stable, take it. If not, the no-commitment version buys you the option to move — and in a market that changes every quarter, that option is worth more than it looks.

Want to know what coverage your town has?Check your postcode.

Published 28 October 2026.