Telefónica grows 94% in its Internet of Things business

The revolution of everyday devices connected to the internet has become a new source of revenue for telecommunications operators, one that the major players are not wasting. Telefónica España has seen a 94% growth in the last year in the so-called Internet of Things (IoT) lines, which connect these devices to the internet.

This growth has allowed the company chaired by Marc Murtra to increase its market share for this service to 40.37%, according to figures for lines associated with machines published by the National Commission on Markets and Competition (CNMC).

The information reported by the company last Wednesday shows that Telefónica España closed the first half of the year with 8.67 million IoT lines, compared to the 4.46 million it had in June 2024. So far this year, the company has seen significant growth of more than 72% since the 5 million it had in December 2024. In the quarter between April and June alone, it added 2.7 million lines, which, compared to the 5.89 million it had at the end of March, represents an increase of 47%.

40.37% market share

Behind this strong growth are projects that have seen significant momentum in the last year and show significant growth potential, such as the V-16 beacon. A safety light device that replaces the warning triangles required on vehicles to signal an accident and will be mandatory in all vehicles starting January 1, 2026. The beacon not only alerts other drivers of the accident scene via light, but must also be connected so that security forces and roadside assistance can access the vehicle's exact location.

Telefónica has also gained ground by providing this type of service to more traditional channels such as POS terminals, enabling card payments, as well as another of its growth avenues in recent years: connected security alarms.

Another large part of the business comes from smart meters for household and business services, such as electricity and gas, which are becoming increasingly common in Spain.