9 Capitalized contract costs

As of December 31, 2023, the carrying amount of capitalized contract costs stood at EUR 3.5 billion and was thus EUR 0.3 billion higher than at the end of the prior year. This increase was attributable in particular to a higher level of capitalized costs of obtaining a contract in postpaid customer business in the Germany and United States operating segments. The costs of obtaining a contract mainly include sales commissions paid to employees and third-party retailers in the direct and indirect sales channel. Overall, capitalized contract costs of EUR 2,742 million (2022: EUR 2,343 million) were written down on a straight-line basis over the estimated customer retention period. Exchange rate effects, primarily from the translation from U.S. dollars into euros, reduced the carrying amount.