Orihuela Town Hall has acknowledged the growing problem of overhead communication cables covering buildings across the municipality, including the historic centre, which is protected as a Site of Cultural Interest. The cables have become part of the urban landscape, but residents continue to complain about their visual impact and potential safety risks, particularly in heritage areas and during events such as Holy Week processions.

The councillor for urban planning, Matías Ruiz, has said the council is asking telecommunications companies to remove excess and obsolete wiring. However, the governing coalition of the People’s Party and Vox has ruled out creating a specific municipal by-law, allocating council funds, or commissioning a full audit of existing cable installations. Instead, companies themselves are being required to inventory and manage their own infrastructure.

Ruiz has pointed out that recent restoration projects, including the former courts and the Rubalcava Palace, have already seen cables removed, and that new developments must now place wiring underground. The issue has been debated repeatedly in council over the past decade, with calls for stricter regulation. Critics argue current measures are insufficient and warn that without stronger local rules, cable clutter will continue to damage the appearance and heritage of Orihuela’s historic streets.