- 5G data traffic skyrockets in Spain at Christmas, with increases of 80% at Telefónica and 59% at Vodafone.
- Mobile data consumption is becoming the main way to send Christmas greetings and share moments, while voice communication is evolving unevenly.
- Telefónica achieves 94% 5G coverage and Vodafone exceeds 90%, extending the network to thousands of municipalities, many of them rural.
- Peak usage is concentrated in the evening of December 24th and 25th, especially at 16:00 PM and 22:00 PM.
Last Christmas confirmed what many operators already anticipated: the 5G traffic in Spain skyrockets during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day And it becomes the main focus of communications during this time of year. Calls, yes, but above all, videos, photos, messages, and greetings travel through next-generation networks at an unprecedented rate.
Between December 24 and 25, Telefónica and Vodafone recorded double-digit increases in 5G data consumptionWith growth rates approaching 80% for Telefónica's network compared to the previous year, and 59% for Vodafone Spain's network. This leap is further supported by coverage that now reaches virtually the entire population.
Data rules this Christmas: 5G consolidates its position as the main channel
The figures provided by the operators make it clear that The way we communicate at Christmas has changedThe congratulations are no longer limited to the obligatory phone calls, but rather involve an intense exchange of messages, photographs, videos, and content shared on social networks and messaging applications.
During Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, next-generation networks recorded peak data consumption levels much higher than in previous yearsIn both operators, the key moment was on the night of December 25, around 22:00 p.m., when millions of users took the opportunity to send videos, share images of family gatherings and connect via video call.
In parallel, Total mobile data traffic also increased significantlyTelefónica reported an overall increase of 18% during those days compared to the same period of the previous year, while Vodafone reported a growth of 14% across its entire data network.
These increases add to a trend that had already been observed in previous Christmas campaigns: Mobile data is becoming the preferred way to send holiday greetings, share moments in real time and stay in touch with family and friends, wherever they are.
Telefónica: 5G traffic increases by 80% and reaches almost the entire population
In the case of Telefónica, the operator has explained that 5G data traffic grew by around 80% during Christmas Eve and Christmas Day compared to the previous year. This leap reinforces its role as one of the leading companies in the deployment of this technology in Spain.
The company emphasizes that it already has a 5G coverage reaching 94% of the populationThis allows the network to handle these peak consumption levels without significant disruptions. It is designed to absorb double-digit traffic increases during critical times without degrading the user experience.
The total data traffic on their network recorded an increase of 18% compared to the same period of the previous yearDemand remained consistently high throughout both days, but peak usage was concentrated at 22:00 PM on December 25, coinciding with the time when the most digital content was shared.
Between 15:00 PM on the 24th and 03:00 AM on the 25th, there was also a The first peak of high intensity occurred at 16:00 PM on Christmas Eve.During that time, many users took the opportunity to send congratulations, memes, videos, and photos before family dinners, which boosted the use of the 5G network and the entire data network.
The company focuses on the fact that These figures demonstrate the change in habits in Christmas communications., with an increasing prominence of high-speed data traffic, driven by services that require fast and stable connections, such as video calls or the sending of high-resolution content.
Vodafone: strong push for 5G, more data and fewer calls
Vodafone Spain has also detected very heavy network activity during the holidays. According to the operator's data, Mobile data usage over 5G increased by 59% on December 24th and 25th compared to the same period of the previous year, confirming the widespread adoption of this technology among its customers.
Regarding the network as a whole, Total mobile data traffic increased by 14%.The period of greatest activity also occurred in the afternoon and evening of Christmas Day, reaching peak consumption at 22:00 p.m., with 12% more traffic than in the same time period a year earlier.
These patterns reinforce the idea that Users prioritize mobile data to send holiday greetingswhether through messaging apps, social media posts, or video calls with family members who are far away.
The main difference compared to Telefónica is seen in voice performance. In the case of Vodafone, Call traffic decreased by approximately 10%.Although the peak volume remained, as in previous campaigns, at noon on Christmas Eve. In other words, calls are still being made, but clearly less frequently, while the use of other digital channels is growing.
The operator links this change to the consolidation of instant messaging services, image and video sending, and multimedia communication, which concentrate a large part of the activity on their 5G network during these important dates.
Coverage: 5G now reaches almost the entire country and extends to rural areas
The sharp increase in 5G traffic at Christmas is not only explained by changing habits, but also by the extensive network coverage achieved by the main operators in Spain. Both Telefónica and Vodafone have accelerated its deployment to reach almost the entire territory.
In the case of Telefónica, the company has announced that Its 5G network already covers 94% of the populationThis makes it easier for users in large, medium, and small cities to use applications and services that require high bandwidth, even during times of potential congestion such as Christmas Eve.
Vodafone, for its part, has focused on geographical expansion. The operator has reached 5G coverage in 4.184 municipalities, serving more than 90% of the populationThis deployment includes both large urban centers and rural areas and small towns.
According to the company's data, the operator has brought the next-generation network to 629 localities with fewer than 1.000 inhabitants and 356 municipalities with fewer than 10.000 residentsIn addition, coverage has been extended to 66 municipalities with populations between 10.000 and 50.000 inhabitants. This follows the incorporation of 1.051 new municipalities in 50 provinces during its latest expansion cycle.
This strategy contributes to reduce the digital divide between urban and rural areasSo, when Christmas arrives, the inhabitants of small towns can also enjoy high-quality video calls, share large videos, or connect to cloud services with an experience similar to that of big cities.
The 700 MHz band and the quality of the 5G experience
One of the key elements in the Christmas 5G rollout is the use of the 700 MHz band, especially relevant for indoor coverage and 5G spectrum managementVodafone has highlighted that it bases a large part of its 5G network on this frequency, which improves signal penetration in homes, offices and enclosed spaces.
Thanks to this band, Coverage in rural areas and areas of low population density is more efficientThis is especially important during holidays when many people travel to second homes or their hometowns and still demand a fast and stable connection.
The 5G network deployed by the operator allows Download content up to five times faster than with 4G, significantly reduce latency and offer a more stable user experience, even during times of high concentration of users connected simultaneously.
These improvements aren't just noticeable in Christmas greetings. They also translate into higher quality connectivity for businesses and professionalswho can continue working remotely, access cloud services or manage connected devices without interruption, even on dates when the network is particularly busy.
Overall, the strengthening of the 5G infrastructure allows operators to handle December traffic peaks smoothlywhich have become a recurring stress test for mobile networks, similar to what happens with large-audience sporting events or massive launches of streaming content.
The voice persists, but the data takes center stage.
Voice traffic patterns during these holidays reflect a reality that is somewhere in between: Traditional phone calls still carry weight, but they have lost ground to data.However, the evolution is not identical in all operators.
Telefónica has registered a slight increase in voice traffic of around 1,2% compared to the previous year. The highest volume of calls was concentrated at 12:00 noon on December 24, with a second peak around 18:00 p.m. that same day, maintaining the classic pattern of calls prior to family gatherings.
On the other hand, Vodafone has reported that a drop of nearly 10% in the number of calls made During Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, although the peak hour was also around midday on the 24th. Network usage clearly shifted towards data services, where 5G took center stage.
This divergence illustrates how, although the voice remains a relevant channel for many peopleNewer generations and a large part of the users are leaning towards digital channels based on data: messages, voice notes through apps, video calls or posts on social networks.
For the operators, this change forces them to size the network by first considering the peak data traffic, especially during peak times such as 16:00 PM on Christmas Eve or 22:00 PM on Christmas Day, when many interactions coincide and the capacity of the infrastructure is put to the test.
A 5G ecosystem that goes beyond the holidays
Although the Christmas season serves as a barometer of intensive social media use, companies point out that The rollout of 5G has implications that go far beyond a few specific days.The improvement in speed, latency, and capacity opens the door to new services and business models throughout the year.
Operators like Vodafone highlight that their 5G network allows Enable advanced solutions related to the Internet of Things, industrial digitization, or critical services and move towards 5G stand-alone networksSectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, or industry can rely on these infrastructures to automate processes, monitor assets in real time, or deploy advanced remote work tools.
In this context, the heavy traffic spikes recorded on dates such as December 24th and 25th function as a practical test of the robustness of the network in situations of peak demand, something that is key when it comes to guaranteeing essential services or business applications that cannot fail.
The operators also emphasize their commitment to reducing the digital divide and boosting the competitiveness of the business sector In Spain, leveraging 5G infrastructure to facilitate innovation and economic growth across the territory, from large urban centers to the smallest municipalities.
The data from this Christmas season reflects a scenario in which 5G has already become the foundation of mobile communications During the holidays, with an increasing weight of data exchange and coverage that encompasses the vast majority of the population, it suggests that the next Christmas campaigns will be, if possible, even more digital.
