The new service you are talking about is called SDP, which stands for "
Servicio de Dirección de Plataforma" ("
Apron Direction Service").
The guys that work at it are not ATCO´s, but hired by INECO (Spanish State Engineering company) after a 96 hr. theoric + 62 hr. training course.
They are not suposed to issue control instructions, only information.
It is the pilot who is responsible of own separation with other ACFT´s/vehicles. This is why my ATCO´s colleagues at Barajas airport transfer all ACFT´s to them with the "control service terminated" at the end.
They are cheaper workers than ATCO´s, what I don´t know is if the companies get to pay less for their service than what they paid before ...
Keep your eyes open ...