Talk:Spain/@comment-188.65.234.49-20151113154204/@comment-24682153-20151113210921

That depends on what you call development. "No answer" for 1000nds of tourists? What was your question?

About nano SIMs: 2013 nanos had a worldwide share of 4%, 2014 of 9%, now we are around 16%. Some operators now give out triple cut-out cards. But it's hard to say who, as still old packages are in the market. The availability of nano SIMs is very variable. Flagship stores in Madrid will surely have it in stock, the small store around the corner may be not. But you can always cut it to size or let them cut it to size for you (possibly for a fee). Most independent cell phone stores in Spain do this for you.

Suggesting Spain is "a 3rd world country", you probably have never been to one. In many developing countries you can't get a list price for a starter or a bundle, you have to bargain and you really can't rely on the mobile service, sometimes not even on having power at all. This all surely does not apply to Spain.

In all over Western Europe 4G/LTE is given out more or less for a premium. Sometimes not on prepaid at all, sometimes only to more expensive plans. The main reason is a hidden tax: the licenses cost billions to the operators. Most developing countries are happy, if they have covered most of their population by 3G already. But e.g. Vodafone in Spain sells you 1 GB of 4G data for 10 €.

But in the end, you have to add the start-up price for the SIM card. They are hardly free in Spain. Every SIM card needs to be registered with name, birth date etc. Spain is very strict about it, as people lost their lives through bombs triggered by a prepaid card in a suburban train. An efficient registration system costs some money and time. That's why a SIM is hardly given out for free.

Please don't judge this or that country only on the basis where you come from. The Spanish market is still more competitive than neighbouring France or Portugal for instance. But sure, there are some countries which are cheaper and less complicated for buying a SIM card than Spain.