History

Telefónica is the result of more than 99 years of anticipation and transformation…

2024

100 years connecting people’s lives

Discover the Centenary website www.telefonica100.com
A journey through time built from our history into the future.

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2023 – 2022

  • Telefónica presents its GPS plan: Growth, Profitability and Sustainability are the cornerstones of Telefónica’s new strategic plan to lead in the digital era. (2023)
  • Pau Gasol, new Telefónica ambassador (2023)
  • Agreement between Telefónica Hispam, KKR and Entel to invest in the new InfraCo, Peru (2023)
  • Open Gateway announced (2023)
  • Notification to the CNMC of the closure of all copper plants (2023)
  • Acquisition, together with Pontegadea, of KKR’s 40% stake in the infrastructure group Telxius Telecom. (2022)
  • Telefónica opens Mobile World Congress stand in the metaverse (2022)
  • Successful issuance of our first senior sustainable bond (2022)
  • First telco to achieve validation of its net zero emissions target under new SBTi standard (2022)
  • Telefónica, Liberty Global and Infravia Capital Partners form joint venture to build new fibre network in UK (2022)
From left to right: Laura Abasolo, José María Álvarez-Pallete and Ángel Vilá

2021 – 2017

  • Alliances with UGG in Germany and Fibrasil in Brazil (2021)
  • Joint Venture with Virgin Media in UK (2020)
  • Movistar Prosegur Alarmas (2020)
  • Telefónica approves a 5-point plan that will mark a new era for the company (2019)
  • Creation of Telefónica Tech and Telefónica Infra (2019)
  • Announced sale of Central America (2019)
  • Telefónica launches Aura and leads the integration of artifical intelligence in its networks and customer care (2018)
  • Sale of Telxius stake to Pontegadea (2018)
  • Disposal of Antares (2018)
  • Telefónica increases stake in Telefónica Deutschland from 63.2% to 69.2% via swap agreement with KPN (2017)
  • Creation of Telxius and sale of minority stake to KKR (2017)
Telefonica is made by all of us

2016 – 2013

  • Appointment of José María Álvarez-Pallete as Executive Chairman of Telefónica (2016)
  • Sale of 1.51% stake in China Unicom (2016)
  • Sale of Telecom Italia’s stake (2014)
  • Acquisition of GVT in Brazil (2014)
  • Acquisition of DTS (Canal+) in Spain (2014)
  • Sale of Telefónica Ireland (2014)
  • Acquisition of E-Plus in Germany (2014)
  • New totally customer-centred organization (2014)
  • Sale of Telefónica Czech Republic (2014)
  • Sale of 40% of Telefónica’s stake in Centroamérica (2013)
José María Álvarez-Pallete

2012 – 2010

  • Sale of Atento (2012)
  • IPO Telefónica Deutschland (2012)
  • Sale of 4.56% stake in China Unicom (2012)
  • T.Digital and TGR creation (2011)
  • Mobile license awarded in Costa Rica (2011)
  • Control of Vivo obtained by buying PT stake out of Brasilcel (2010)
  • Acquisition of Hansenet in Germany, Jajah in Israel and Tuenti in Spain (2010)

2009 – 2006

  • Strengthening of the strategic alliance with China Unicom (2009)
  • Reaches a 5.38% participation in China Unicom after the CUCNC merger (2008)
  • Acquisition of Telemig by Vivo in Brazil (2008)
  • Industrial alliance with Telecom Italia (10.47% of the voting rights) (2007)
  • 51% stake taken in Colombia Telecom (2006)
  • Mobile license awarded in Slovakia (2006)
  • Acquisition of the O2 assets in the UK, Germany and Ireland (2006)

2005 – 2000

  • Takes a 5% stake in China Netcom (2005)
  • Acquisition of Cesky Telecom (2005)
  • Acquisition of BellSouth’s assets in Latin America (2004)
  • Launches Imagenio (2003)
  • Joint venture of Telefónica and Portugal Telecom in Brazil: Vivo (2003)
  • Veronica Operation: Telefónica de Argentina; Telefónica del Perú; Telesp and Tele Sudeste in Brazil (2000)

1999 – 1995

  • Launches fixed broadband access service ADSL (1999)
  • Telefónica becomes fully public again (1999)
  • Fundesco and Fundación Arte Tecnología merge to create Fundación Telefónica with 100% contribution from Telefónica (1998)
  • Wins the tender for Telesp in Brazil (1998)
  • First partial sale of the Spanish government’s stake (1995)
  • Commercial Internet is being born. Telefónica launches Infovía (1995)

1994 – 1990

  • Launches digital mobile telephony: Movistar (1994)
  • Enters in Peru (TdP) (1994)
  • Launches MoviLine, the analogue mobile service, reaching a geographic coverage of 98% in three years. (1990)
  • Enters in Chile (CTC) and in Argentina (TASA) (1990)

1989 – 1965

  • Takes part in Hispasat constitution (1989)
  • Begins trading at the New York Stock Exchange (1987)
  • Installs the 10 millionth phone (1978)
  • Starts operations of the 1st European Data Transmission Special Network (1971)
  • Satellite communications are initiated (1967)

1964 – 1924

  • CTNE becomes the #1 Spanish enterprise (100,000 shareholders, 32,000 employees) (1960)
  • The Spanish government takes 79.6% of CTNE shares (1945)
  • CTNE is set up in Madrid; ITT is one of its initial shareholders (1924)
Historia 1927, construction of Gran Via Building
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