Germany: Top 10 Telecom Companies with Highest Sales

According to our database (as of April 2023), a total of more than 5.3M businesses operate in Germany. Only 3.5% of them (over 186 thousand) operate in Transportation, Communications, Electric, Gas, and Sanitary Services. These companies generate sales of EUR 1.64T a year, which is 13.6% of the total sales generated by all businesses registered in Germany. All data used below is available in individual companies’ annual reports.

Deutsche Telekom AG had the highest sales in 2021

Deutsche Telekom AG had the highest sales with EUR 107B (a year-on-year increase of almost 8B). The company offers a range of services including fixed and mobile telephony, broadband, and television services.

Vodafone Group Plc was second with EUR 45.6B in sales in 2021 (an increase of almost EUR 2B year-on-year). Vodafone is a UK multinational corporation that provides mobile and fixed-line services as well as broadband and television services. The company’s revenue comes primarily from Germany (29%), UK (14%), and Italy (11%).

Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG was third with sales of more than EUR 7.7B (an increase of EUR 233M compared to 2020). The company provides mobile and fixed-line services, as well as broadband and television services.

RTL Television GmbH was fourth with sales of EUR 6.6B in 2021 (a year-on-year increase of EUR 600M). It is a German television channel that broadcasts a range of entertainment, news and sports programs.

EWE TEL GmbH was fifth with sales of more than EUR 6.5B (an increase of half a billion euros year-on-year). This company focuses on mobile and fixed-line telephony, broadband, and television services.

United Internet AG was sixth with sales of more than EUR 5.6B (an increase of almost EUR 300M compared to 2020). The company offers web hosting, cloud solutions, and email services for businesses and individuals in Germany and other countries.

1&1 AG was seventh with more than EUR 3.9B in sales in 2021 (an increase of more than EUR 100M year-on-year). This internet services provider offers web hosting, domain registration, and cloud solutions for B2B and B2C clients.

Freenet AG was eighth with EUR 2.5B in sales (a year-on-year decrease of EUR 20M). Freenet is a German provider of internet and mobile services, including mobile telephony, broadband, and television services.

ZDF (Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen) was ninth with sales of more than EUR 2.3B in 2021 (an increase of more than EUR 100M year-on-year). ZDF is a German television broadcaster.

Tele Columbus AG was tenth with less than half a billion euros in sales (a decrease of EUR 17M compared to 2020). Tele Columbus is a German cable network operator that provides television, internet, and telephony services to B2B and B2C customers.

Deutsche Telekom AG had the highest profit both before and after tax

Deutsche Telekom AG had the highest profit before tax in 2021 - EUR 7.6B (year-on-year decrease of EUR 830M). Vodafone was second with EUR 3.9B (year-on-year decrease of EUR 446M). RTL Television GmbH was third with EUR 1.8B (an increase of almost EUR 1B compared to 2020). Five other telecom companies reported less than one billion euros in profit and two reported a loss - EWE TEL GmbH (EUR 845M), United Internet AG (EUR 732M), 1&1 AG (EUR 535M), freenet AG (EUR 218M), Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG (EUR 205M), Tele Columbus AG (EUR -92M), ZDF (EUR -135B).

Deutsche Telekom AG also reported the highest profit after tax in 2021 - EUR 6.1B. Vodafone Group Plc was second with EUR 2.6B. RTL Television GmbH was third with EUR 1.4B. EWE TEL GmbH was fourth with EUR 597M, followed by United Internet AG (EUR 394M), 1&1 AG (EUR 370M), Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG (EUR 211M), and freenet AG (EUR 191M). Tele Columbus AG and ZDF reported a loss of EUR -85M and EUR -152M respectively.