- Business
- United Internet AG (UDIRF) operates as a leading European internet services provider, offering broadband and mobile internet access products along with cloud-based applications through its two primary segments: Access and Applications. In the Consumer Access sub-segment, it provides landline-based broadband, mobile internet services including 5G via the 1&1 brand and discount brands such as yourfone and smartmobil.de, as well as related applications encompassing home networks, online storage, telephony, smart home solutions, IPTV, and video-on-demand; the Business Access sub-segment, marketed under 1&1 Versatel, delivers fiber-optic connections, comprehensive telecommunication solutions, and tailored connectivity for enterprises and local authorities via one of Germany's largest fiber-optic networks. The Consumer Applications sub-segment features free and ad-financed e-mail services through brands like GMX, WEB.DE, and mail.com; the Business Applications sub-segment offers web hosting, domain registration, cloud infrastructure, e-business tools, personal information management, online advertising, and website builders via IONOS, STRATO, Arsys, Fasthosts, home.pl, InterNetX, united-domains, world4you, Sedo, we22, and United Internet Media, targeting small- to mid-sized companies, freelancers, and home users.
Founded in 1988 and headquartered in Montabaur, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, the company maintains a primary focus on Germany and Europe in its Access division while extending its Business Applications globally to 15 European markets—including France, the United Kingdom, Italy, and Spain—as well as North America with operations in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. United Internet supports over 29 million fee-based customer contracts and more than 39 million ad-financed free accounts worldwide, underpinned by an innovative 5G mobile network, extensive data centers with over 100,000 servers, and a commitment to digital sovereignty through "Internet made in Germany." Its subsidiaries include 1&1 AG, 1&1 IONOS SE, and 1&1 Versatel, among others.
In recent developments, United Internet AG launched a partial voluntary public tender offer in 2025 to increase its stake in 1&1 AG from approximately 80.81% to up to 90%, financed by a EUR 306 million credit facility from BNP Paribas, following a prior increase to 85% via a similar offer. The company sold its "Energy" business field in mid-October 2025 and treats Sedo as a discontinued operation per IFRS 5, while reporting successful first-nine-months results with 29.50 million fee-based contracts, sales up 1.4% to EUR 4,502.2 million (adjusted), and confirmed 2025 guidance including consolidated sales near EUR 6.45 billion. It advanced its 5G rollout through a 2024 loan of up to EUR 800 million (JBIC portion EUR 300 million) for Open RAN technology via 1&1 AG, alongside partnerships like national roaming with Vodafone and Telefónica, tower deals with Vantage Towers, and migration completion targeted for year-end 2025.