Germany

Customer development

Total

In Germany we continue to be market leader both in terms of fixed-network and mobile revenues. This success is attributable to our high-performance networks, a broad product portfolio, and good service. We want to offer our customers a seamless and technology-neutral telecommunications experience. We regularly adapt our product portfolio to address the needs of our customers.

The fixed-network broadband market hosts a large number of players with differing infrastructures – from national through to regional providers. In order to consolidate our position on the market as Germany’s leading telecommunications provider, we continue to add new offerings to our portfolio.

Mobile communications

The number of high-value mobile contract customers under the Telekom and congstar brands grew by 281 thousand customers overall. Sustained high demand for mobile rate plans with data volumes continues to drive this trend. The number of prepaid customers grew by 1.5 million against the start of 2024, primarily due to M2M SIM cards used in the automotive industry.

Fixed network

Demand remained high for our fiber-optic-based lines, with the total number increasing to 20.4 million since the end of 2023. This strong growth is driven by demand for higher bandwidths.

The number of retail broadband lines remained at a high level, increasing to 15.1 million compared with December 31, 2023. 47.1 % of the customers have subscribed to a rate plan with speeds of 100 Mbit/s or higher. The number of fixed-network lines stood at 17.3 million.

Wholesale

As of March 31, 2024, fiber-optic-based lines accounted for 69.0 % of all lines – 1.6 percentage points more than at the end of 2023. This growth is a result of the demand for our commitment agreements. Ongoing demand among retail customers for higher-bandwidth lines also contributed to the increase. The number of unbundled local loop lines decreased by 178 thousand compared with the end of the prior year, while fiber-optic-based lines increased by 122 thousand. These developments result partly from the shift to higher-value fiber-optic-based lines and partly from consumers switching to other providers. In addition, our wholesale partners are migrating their retail customers to their own infrastructures. The total number of wholesale lines at the end of March 2024 was 10.8 million.

Development of operations

Revenue, service revenue

In the first quarter of 2024, we generated revenue of EUR 6.3 billion, which was up by 2.6 % against the prior-year quarter. This was mainly attributable to growth in service revenues of 1.8 %, due to increased revenue in the fixed-network core business, largely driven by broadband and IT business, and to higher mobile service revenues. Another revenue driver was the 8.1 % increase in non-service revenues, primarily from mobile terminal equipment revenues.

Revenue from Consumers increased by 5.0 % compared with the prior-year quarter. Revenue from broadband business continued to grow, due in part to the positive effects from customer appreciation for reliable networks and high bandwidths. Volume-driven declines in revenue from voice components continued to impact on traditional fixed-network business. The mobile business increased due to higher service revenues, mainly as a result of positive customer development.

Revenue from Business Customers was down 5.9 % against the prior-year period, primarily due to certain revenues being recognized under Wholesale since January 1, 2024. In organic terms, revenue fell by 0.6 %, mainly due to a decline in infrastructure business in the public sector and deviating seasonal effects in the project-driven business. Positive trends were recorded once again in IT business and mobile service revenues, with the latter driven mainly by sustained growth in the customer base.

Wholesale revenue was up in the first quarter of 2024 by 19.3 % year-on-year as a result of the change in disclosure of revenues described under Business Customers. On an organic basis, revenue remained at the same level as in the prior-year period.

Adjusted EBITDA AL, EBITDA AL

Adjusted EBITDA AL increased by EUR 0.1 billion or 3.5 % year-on-year to EUR 2.6 billion. In organic terms, adjusted EBITDA AL grew by 3.0 %. Our adjusted EBITDA AL margin increased to 40.9 %. The main reasons for this increase are a sound operational development, driven by high-value revenue growth, and enhanced cost efficiency, primarily as a result of the lower headcount and the ongoing implementation of efficiency enhancement and digitalization measures.

EBITDA AL increased by EUR 0.1 billion to EUR 2.5 billion. The effects described with regard to adjusted EBITDA AL included special factors in the amount of EUR 0.1 billion for socially responsible staff restructuring.

Profit/loss from operations (EBIT)

Profit from operations amounted to EUR 1.5 billion, an increase of 7.0 % against the prior-year quarter. The positive EBITDA trend contributed to this development. Depreciation, amortization and impairment losses were up EUR 35 million against the prior-year period, mainly as a result of the sale and leaseback of passive network infrastructure in Germany in connection with the sale of GD Towers.

Cash capex (before spectrum investment), cash capex

Cash capex increased by EUR 306 million, or 25.8 %, compared with the prior-year period. Capital expenditure totaled around EUR 1.5 billion in the first three months of 2024, in particular for the fiber-optic build-out. The number of households passed by our fiber-optic network had increased to 8.2 million by the end of March 2024. In mobile communications, 96.5 % of German households can already use 5G.