Telefónica S.A. NYSE: TEF TYO: 9481 is a Spanish telecommunications company. Operating mainly in Spain and Latin America it is one of the largest fixed-line and mobile telecommunications companies in the world, 4th in terms of number of clients and 6th in total market value.
Telefónica is the largest corporation in Spain. It owns Telefónica de España which is the largest fixed phone and ADSL operator in Spain, Telefónica Moviles the largest mobile phone operator in Spain (under the movistar brand), Terra Networks, S.A. an internet subsidiary and Telefónica Publicidad e Información publisher of the Spanish Yellow Pages.
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Czech Republic
In 2005, Telefónica bought Český Telecom, the former state-owned Czech phone operator which still dominates the Czech fixed-line market. As part of this deal Telefónica also gained Eurotel, the largest mobile phone operator in the Czech Republic.
United Kingdom, Republic of Ireland, Germany and Isle of Man
On 26th January 2006 Telefónica completed it's £17,7 billion (?25,7 billion) acquisition of the UK-based operator O2 which provides mobile phone services in the UK, Republic of Ireland, Germany and Isle of Man (where it also operates a small number of fixed-line services). As part of the takeover deal these services will continue to use the O2 brand and be based in the UK.
Latin America
Telefónica operates the movistar mobile phone brand throughout Latin America. In Mexico it is the second largest mobile phone operator and the largest in both Chile and Peru. See movistar article for complete country list.
Argentina
Telefónica owns Telefónica de Argentina [1] which is the largest fixed-line operation in the country. It provides broadband, local and long distance telephone services in southern part of the country as well as the Great Buenos Aires area. The Telefónica Group has been in the country since 1990. The mobile business is run by Telefónica Móviles through movistar, a local subsidiary.
Brazil
Telefónica's largest fixed-line operation in Latin America is in Brazil where it provides broadband, local and long distance telephone services in the São Paulo state. It also jointly owns the Brazilian wireless operator Vivo with Portugal Telecom. The Telefónica Group has been in the country since 1996 when it acquired CRT, a fixed-line and mobile operator in the southern part of the country. The landline division is currently part of Brasil Telecom.
Chile
In Chile Telefónica owns CTC (Compañia de Telefonos de Chile) which is the biggest fixed-line operator and internet service provider in the country. The Telefónica Group has been in the country since 1989. The mobile business is run by Telefónica Móviles through a local subsidiary.
Peru
The Telefónica Group has been in the country since 1994 and owns the largest fixed-line operator in the country. The local subsidiary offers local, long distance and broadband services nationwide. The mobile business is run by Telefónica Móviles through a local subsidiary.
Puerto Rico
Telefonica de Puerto Rico is situated in one of Puerto Rico's most famous buildings (coloured in yellow in accordance with the yellow pages' colour), in Caparra, a section of San Juan. Telefonica de Puerto Rico survived a 2003 workers' strike.
Africa
Morocco
Telefonica also has a stake in the Morocco operator, Méditel.
Ownership
Telefónica is a publicly owned company. It is estimated that a large part of its stock is owned by capital investment funds. Major stockholders include:
JPMorgan Chase: 10.02%
Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, S.A. (BBVA): 5.62%
Caja de Ahorros y Pensiones de Barcelona ("La Caixa"): 5.37%
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