The Catalan telecom operator that wants to be a social movement

The telecommunications sector in Spain and Europe is undergoing a period of consolidation, with large companies merging to become increasingly global and larger. Amid this trend, a small Catalan operator, Som Connexió, is emerging, aiming to become more than just a service provider for homes and businesses. "More than a company, we are a social movement," they explain in theCompanies Mercè Botella, one of the founding members of this cooperative, carries out coordination and promotional work within the company.

Som Connexió is a consumer cooperative with approximately 9,500 members. These cooperative members contribute a €100 fee, separate from the cost of any services they contract. However, membership is not required to be a customer, and in fact, there are already around 20,000 customers with telecommunications services through them. Like other operators, the cooperative offers fixed-line, mobile, and internet services to its customers, both individuals and businesses. Their wholesale providers are Vodafone and MasOrange.

Although they have more customers than members, the cooperative is working to convert these customers into members. Their competitive advantage comes from outsourcing non-value-added activities, and their objective is clear: to double their activity within two or three years. The cooperative began operating eleven years ago, in March 2014. Although there is no corporate affiliation, it does seek synergies with other similar cooperatives in other sectors, such as Som Energia and Som Mobilitat. Naturally, during this period, growth has been significant in the social economy sector. But now the strategy also includes expanding into products for businesses. In this area, they already have clients, primarily within the social economy, foundations, and the third sector. To grow the business, in the early years the cooperative relied heavily on word-of-mouth marketing, but now, with these products for businesses and the goal of doubling the number of clients, it is necessary to invest in marketing, including social media and digital marketing. The cooperative employs around 40 people, with a significant number of technology professionals. These employees would likely earn more money in other, non-cooperative companies in the sector. "We have a salary scale that's not very attractive for these profiles," says Mercè Botella, who acknowledges that talent is retained because they are "activist" people.

The great challenge

The business is profitable, largely due to the very prudent management implemented from the outset. "We knew difficult times would come," explains a member of the cooperative. And so they did. "This year we don't have a subsidy from the Generalitat," she indicates, acknowledging that this makes it harder to balance the books (around €250,000 less in revenue). "In 2026 we have a huge challenge ahead of us," says Botella, who nevertheless remains optimistic and believes the project will continue to move forward. The cooperative estimates it will close 2025 with revenues of around four million euros, a figure practically the same as in 2024, but it is counting on growth in the number of members and clients in the coming years to continue advancing, offering its services without abandoning its cooperative principles or the social economy. The social objective is clear. It's not just about selling telephone or internet services. There's also a component that aims to provide added social value. For example, access to refurbished phones, or projects related to reducing the digital divide or related to children and screens. Thus, the cooperative has produced publications such as the A guide for cruel and evil families, which attempts to explain how to make the progressive introduction on the first mobile; scare meA guide to raising children aged 0-3 without screens, and Challenge: No mobile phone, for familiesA guide to achieving a healthier relationship with mobile phones and family.

This project has also published various brochures with advice for children aged 0-6 and 7-12, as well as for teenagers aged 12-16; and workshops for families have also been organized.