We provide integrated mobile, fixed and broadband services in the UK, Ireland, Germany, the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Together, we’re Telefónica Europe, but customers know us as O2.

Telefónica Europe also owns 50% of the Tesco Mobile joint venture business in the UK and Ireland, as well as, the Tchibo Mobilfunk joint venture in Germany. In addition, the group includes the Isle of Man fixed/mobile operator, Manx Telecom.

We now have 47.6 million mobile, fixed and broadband customers across Europe and 29,000 employees across the Group.

Telefónica Europe plc reported a strong performance in 2008, despite a worse economic environment and changing patterns in customer behaviour; reporting revenues at the year end (31 December 2008) of €14.3 billion.

With the markets being affected unequally, the main common strength across Telefónica Europe has been the delivery of new propositions that anticipated customer needs in the current environment.

We delivered a strong set of results in the first half, to 30 June 2009, in increasingly competitive markets. We have, in particular, reported impressive cash flow growth (up 16.8% year-on-year to €1.130 billion), while maintaining our levels of investment to ensure the long-term health of the business.

In the first six months of 2009, we added 1.5 million customers, bringing Telefónica Europe's total base to 47.6 million. Telefónica has further underlined its position as the 'home of the smartphone' with the recent signing of the Palm Pre exclusive across Europe to add to its already impressive portfolio of high-end mobile devices.