Lorraine Williamson
On Monday, 28 April 2025, a major power outage left large parts of Spain, Portugal, and southern France without electricity for 16 hours. With internet, mobile networks, and television services down, many were abruptly cut off from the outside world. In response, battery-powered radios—long considered outdated—became the most reliable source of information.
As the blackout spread, so did confusion. Few knew what had caused the failure, and with digital communication paralysed, accessing news became nearly impossible. While some listened to radio stations in their cars, the real surge came from people reaching for transistor radios stored in drawers or cupboards. These devices, many running on large 9-volt batteries, suddenly became indispensable.
Analogue technology becomes essential
In Córdoba, an electronics shop in the San Lorenzo district saw a rush unlike anything before. Employees at Electrónica Caballero reported selling nearly 40 battery-operated radios by midday, plus hundreds of batteries and over a hundred torches. “People used to laugh at me for still selling these,” said one employee, “but look at us now.”
The same was reported in Málaga, where Rayu, the owner of a bazaar on Calle Hilera, said he had “sold more radios than I could count.” Customers queued for the most basic models: simple, reliable, and easy to use. Transistor radios flew off the shelves in bazaars, hardware stores, and electronics shops across the country.
Shops struggle to meet sudden demand
Demand quickly outpaced supply. A survey of shops showed that in most towns, radios were sold out within hours. Batteries and flashlights followed. Some customers were offered alternatives, such as using mobile phones with radio apps, which can work without internet if headphones are connected to act as antennas.
Staff at a second-hand shop in Córdoba advised a frustrated customer: “If your phone has a built-in radio app, it’ll work with earphones—even without internet. That’s how we manage during blackouts in Venezuela and Cuba.”
Lessons from the past: Why analogue still matters
The blackout raised questions about society’s heavy dependence on digital infrastructure. It also reminded many that analogue technology, often dismissed as obsolete, still has a role to play. As the team at Electrónica Caballero reflected the following morning: “Yesterday proved that analogue isn’t dead. It’s dependable when everything else fails.”
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