Company 2020

Telefónica / O₂ is taking a technological frontrunner role in the use of Open RAN. The company is the first German network operator to rely on Open RAN in live operation of its mobile network. With the open and vendor-independent solution for the radio access network (RAN), the company is launching a new era for German mobile communications. Open RAN can not only significantly change the supplier structure in the mobile communications sector worldwide, but also significantly accelerate the introduction of new services. Network operators and industry alike will benefit from this. In a pilot phase, Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ is converting three O₂ mobile sites in Landsberg am Lech, Bavaria. From fall 2021, the company plans to roll out the new technology on a larger scale in the O₂ network.

As an employer, Telefónica Germany once again demonstrated exemplary commitment to the health and well-being of its employees in 2020.

The business of Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ performed well in the third quarter. Thanks to high customer interest, especially in mobile tariffs of the core brand O₂ and fixed-network offers, the company was able to slightly increase revenue and its operating result (OIBDA). In the mobile business, a positive seasonal development in the demand for prepaid tariffs could be seen in addition to a strong development in the number of postpaid accesses. The company is thus on track to achieve the targets it has set itself for the year as a whole.

Telefónica Germany / O₂ has set itself the goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2025 at the latest. For the company, this means that all products or services provided, as well as its business activities as a whole, should no longer increase greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere. To this end, concrete measures and interim targets will now be defined every year until 2025, with the aim in particular of improving electricity efficiency, reducing unavoidable CO₂ emissions and increasing the quality of the green electricity used. One focus will be on energy management and network technology.

Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ and Deutsche Telekom are extending and expanding their existing cooperation in the fixed network at an early stage. The two companies have signed a ten-year contract to this end. The contract will also enable O₂ to market Telekom's fiber optic home access services (FTTH) to its customers in future. In addition, O₂ will continue to use VDSL and vectoring wholesale products from Telekom.

On the 30th anniversary of the German unification, Telefónica Germany / O₂ enters the 5G era. In cooperation with the Bavarian Prime Minister Markus Söder, the CEO of the Munich-based company Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ switches on the 5G network of O₂. "We are starting off the data turbo for digitization from Bavaria, for Germany", said Markus Haas at the switch-on ceremony.

On October 3, O₂ will launch the 5G network in the five largest German cities Berlin, Hamburg, Munich, Frankfurt and Cologne. This way the core brand of Telefónica Germany sets a sign for digital progress and mobile freedom in a symbolic virtual act on the 30th anniversary of German reunification. The same also applies to the new mobile communications standard: O₂ democratizes high-tech. By offering the best value-for-money 5G proposition, O₂ will open up access to the 5G experience to all consumers. O₂ private customers will enter the 5G era with the commercial marketing of the offers on 6 October. They can use 5G from day one at no extra charge. Attractive offers for O₂ business customers will follow soon. They will all experience completely new dimensions of digitalisation with O₂ in the future.

Telecommunications provider Telefónica Deutschland and Tech Mahindra Ltd, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting and business re-engineering services and solutions, have agreed on a strategic cooperation in the network and services operations segment.

Telefónica Germany wants to build on the knowledge gained during the COVID-19 special situation and anchor positive changes for the future. To this end, the company presented the corresponding direction to its approximately 8,500 employees on August 10, 2020. With "5 Bold Moves" - five decisive steps - the cooperation is to be aligned to the digital working world of tomorrow: Working Anywhere, Working Anytime, Outcome-based Leadership, Digital by Default and 70% Less Travel.

Telefónica Deutschland / O₂ has had a robust first half-year against the background of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

July 21, 1995 marks the birth of today's Telefónica Deutschland / O₂. 25 years ago, the predecessor company VIAG Interkom became the 4th mobile network operator. Today, the company connects more than 42 million people in mobile communications alone. Another more than 2 million via the fixed network. And a steadily growing number of machines. With increasing digitalization, the company will in future have an even greater impact on all areas of life and work.

The Corona crisis has once again shown how important a well-functioning digital infrastructure is for maintaining public life. Our networks are far better than their reputation - they have passed the stress test! This was made clear again today by the federal government, the states, local authorities and the network operators in their joint declaration on the occasion of the second mobile communications summit under the leadership of Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer.

Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG has signed an agreement with Telxius Telecom S.A. (Telxius) on the spin-off and sale of its passive infrastructure. Approximately 10,100 mobile sites, which are mostly situated on rooftops, will be transferred to the infrastructure company at a purchase price of 1.5 billion euros. The active radio technology at the transferred sites will remain the property of Telefónica Deutschland and will continue to be used to operate the mobile communications network.

Telefónica Deutschland is building the o2 mobile network of the future. For the particularly security-relevant 5G core network, the company is relying on a European provider in the form of the Swedish telecommunications supplier Ericsson. With this groundbreaking decision, the company is setting the course for a secure, digital network for the country in the coming 5G era.

Telefónica Deutschland has successfully held its first virtual Annual General Meeting. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, shareholders were able to resolve as planned agenda items such as the payment of the dividend for 2019 and the Supervisory Board election.

Telefónica Deutschland has made a good start to the year 2020. The company grew more strongly than in previous quarters in terms of both revenue and earnings. In the first three months, revenue rose by 3.8 percent to 1.85 billion euros, while adjusted operating income (OIBDA) increased by 1.6 percent to 532 million euros.

The Supervisory Board of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG today elected Peter Löscher as the new Chairman of the Supervisory Board. He has been a member of the company's Supervisory Board since April 1, 2020 by court appointment.

Telefónica Deutschland has successfully concluded the 2019 financial year and has fully achieved its targets. As forecast, the company grew profitably: Revenue rose by 1.1 percent to 7.4 billion euros, while adjusted operating income (OIBDA) increased by 1 percent on a comparable basis. The significantly improved network quality and the introduction of innovative tariffs, especially at O₂, paid off. With almost 1.5 million additional postpaid subscribers, more people switched to the O₂ network than ever before since the takeover of E-Plus.

The Management Board and Supervisory Board of Telefónica Deutschland are very pleased that they were able to win Peter Löscher as a suitable successor to Laura Abasolo García de Baquedano. He is to become a member of the Supervisory Board of the company with effect from April 1, 2020.

Telefónica Deutschland has secured a loan from the European Investment Bank (EIB) amounting to 450 million euros. The company intends to use the proceeds to build an energy-efficient 5G network and to upgrade its LTE network. In December, Telefónica Deutschland announced that it would significantly increase its investment in the mobile network in 2020 and 2021.