8 Right-of-use assets – lessee relationships
The carrying amount of the right-of-use assets decreased by EUR 3.6 billion compared to December 31, 2024 to EUR 28.6 billion. Depreciation and impairment losses reduced the carrying amount by EUR 5.4 billion. Exchange rate effects, primarily from the translation of U.S. dollars into euros, reduced the carrying amount by EUR 3.1 billion, the previously mentioned reclassifications to property, plant and equipment by EUR 0.7 billion, and disposals by EUR 0.1 billion. By contrast, the carrying amount was increased by additions of EUR 4.6 billion and effects of changes in the composition of the Group of EUR 1.1 billion, mainly from the UScellular Acquisition. Right-of-use assets totaling EUR 0.9 billion were recognized in connection with a master license agreement concluded by T‑Mobile US for the lease of new space on UScellular towers and the extension of lease terms for space already being leased. The right-of-use assets of EUR 0.7 billion for those towers that were not already being leased by T‑Mobile US before the date of the UScellular Acquisition were reported as additions from changes in the composition of the Group.
For further information on depreciation, amortization and impairment losses, please refer to Note 6 “Intangible assets” and Note 27 “Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses.”
For information on corresponding lease liabilities, please refer to Note 13 “Financial liabilities and lease liabilities.”
The right-of-use assets recognized in the statement of financial position relate in particular to leases for cell sites, network infrastructure, and real estate.
Leases can include extension and termination options that can have a substantial impact on the period of depreciation of the right-of-use assets if it is deemed to be reasonably certain that extension options will be exercised or termination options will not be exercised.
For further information, please refer to the section “Accounting policies” under “Summary of accounting policies.”
No significant gains or losses from sale and leaseback transactions were recorded in the reporting year. After the GD tower companies had been sold in 2023, Deutsche Telekom leased back the majority of the sold passive network infrastructure in Germany and Austria under a sale and leaseback arrangement. The portion of the gain attributable to the retained use of the sold assets, amounting to EUR 3.0 billion, will have an impact in later periods by way of lower depreciation of the capitalized right-of-use assets.