Telefónica

Founded on April 19, 1924, by Gumersindo Rico González, Telefónica began as the Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España to unify the nation's fragmented telephone lines. The state-owned entity evolved from a domestic utility into a multinational powerhouse, aggressively expanding its footprint across Latin America during the 1990s and establishing a significant presence in European markets beyond Spain.

The company operates a vast network offering fixed-line telephony, mobile services, broadband internet, and subscription television. Its primary consumer brand in Spain is Movistar, while it manages regional operations like Vivo in Brazil. Through its Telefónica Tech division, the corporation also delivers enterprise solutions, cloud services, and cybersecurity products to businesses globally.

In late 2026, the organization navigated a strategic shift focused on debt reduction and digital transformation. This period saw the sale of its historic headquarters at Gran Vía 28 for €200 million to improve liquidity. Simultaneously, Telefónica secured exclusive rights to broadcast all LaLiga matches for its Movistar Plus+ service through a €1.65 billion agreement with DAZN until 2032, signaling a pivot toward content-driven growth. [edit]