1&1 Internet SE

What 1&1 Internet SE does

1&1 Internet SE, operating through its subsidiary 1&1 Telecom GmbH, is a German consumer and small-business telecommunications provider headquartered in Montabaur and part of the publicly listed United Internet AG group. The company delivers broadband and mobile connectivity services, including DSL, fiber (Glasfaser), and a proprietary 5G mobile network reaching approximately 95% population coverage with a stated near-100% target by end of 2026, supplemented by LTE fallback and a "5G zu Hause" fixed wireless home broadband offering. Beyond connectivity, 1&1 sells and finances consumer hardware (smartphones, tablets, laptops, WLAN routers, smart home devices) and offers bundled value-added services including IPTV (1&1 TV) and on-demand streaming (1&1 Cinema), with a 1&1 Service Card that bundles a 30-day satisfaction guarantee, 24-hour device replacement, and overnight delivery.

The company operates an exclusively direct-to-consumer distribution model with no physical retail, running primarily through the 1und1.de e-commerce platform, telephone sales, and online chat support (8:00-22:00 daily), and cross-selling IONOS domain and hosting services to its base via a sister-brand arrangement within the United Internet Group. Revenue mechanics are built on monthly recurring subscriptions (DSL from €29.99/month, fiber from €34.99/month, mobile tariffs from €4.99-€24.99/month plus device-financing bundles), one-off hardware sales, and subscription entertainment services, with all pricing inclusive of 19% German VAT and offered on either permanent or no-contract terms.

Founded in 1988 by Ralph Dommermuth, 1&1 claims over 19 million customer contracts and is recognized as a top-tier German telco with multiple industry awards (connect, FOCUS MONEY, WirtschaftsWoche, CHIP) for network quality, customer service, and price. The customer base is segmented horizontally into consumers, families, under-29 youth, children, and SME/freelancer business customers, supported by a 1,001-5,000 employee base. Strategic emphasis is on completing the greenfield 5G network rollout to transition from MVNO-era roaming dependence to full MNO status, while expanding ARPU through unlimited mobile tariffs, device financing bundles, and adjacent connected-home revenue lines.

Name

1&1 Internet SE

Legal name

1&1 Telecom GmbH

Website

https://1und1.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1988

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

1&1 Internet SE is a German consumer and SME telecommunications provider offering DSL, fiber, 5G mobile, and fixed wireless home broadband, with bundled hardware, TV, and smart-home services, serving over 19 million customer contracts primarily through direct digital channels as part of United Internet AG.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (51711), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111), Wireless Telecommunications Carriers (except Satellite) (517112)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899), Telephone Communications (No Radiotelephone) (4813)

akta.pro primary industry

Fiber ISPs (FTTH/FTTP Retail Providers) (HDAIADAE)

Keywords

• Broadband internet services
• Mobile telecommunications
• Fiber optic internet
• Consumer mobile plans
• IPTV streaming

Headquarters

HQ city

Montabaur

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Revenue model

1. Telecommunications Services: Monthly recurring subscription revenue from DSL, fiber, and mobile plans including unlimited tariffs and data packages with various data volumes (10GB-120GB)
2. Hardware Sales: Revenue from bundled and standalone sales of smartphones, tablets, laptops including Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Lenovo products with device prices split into monthly installments
3. TV and Entertainment: Revenue from 1&1 TV and 1&1 Cinema streaming services

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

1&1 Internet SE (operating as 1&1 Telecom GmbH) is a German telecommunications provider delivering DSL, fiber optic, and 5G/LTE mobile internet services to consumers and small businesses. The company bundles connectivity subscriptions with hardware (smartphones, tablets, laptops, routers), entertainment (1&1 TV IPTV and 1&1 Cinema streaming), and a service package (1&1 Service Card) offering 30-day trials, priority support, and device replacement.

Product overview

1&1 Internet SE is a telecommunications provider offering a comprehensive portfolio of connectivity and mobile services under the 1&1 brand, complemented by hardware products. The core offerings include DSL internet and fiber optic broadband services, mobile cellular plans (including unlimited and tiered data options), and 5G home internet. Hardware products encompass smartphones (Apple iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, Xiaomi), tablets (iPad, Samsung Galaxy Tab, Lenovo, Xiaomi, PocketBook e-readers), and laptops (MacBook, Samsung Galaxy Book, ASUS ROG/Vivobook/TUF, Lenovo IdeaPad/Legion, HP OmniBook, Chromebooks). Add-on services include IPTV television, 1&1 Cinema video streaming, smart home devices, and routers (DSL/fiber home routers and portable mobile WLAN routers). A customer loyalty service card provides 30-day trials, priority support, overnight delivery, and device replacement. IONOS, a sister company also under United Internet, handles domain registration and web hosting separately. The company targets both consumer (Privatkunden) and business (Geschäftskunden) segments.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• 1&1 DSL

Quantifiable outcome

• 30-day satisfaction guarantee with full refund (setup fee + monthly fee)
• +3 more outcomes

Segments4 records

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• IONOS (formerly 1&1 Internet AG)coreOthers1&1 markets IONOS as a sister company (Schwesterunternehmen), offering domain registration, web hosting, cloud servers, Microsoft 365, and related services. IONOS is part of the same parent company United Internet Group but operates as a separate brand for business hosting services.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Sunrise UPC (Liberty Global Switzerland): Swiss quad-play provider (mobile, broadband, TV, fixed network) acquired by Liberty Global. Comparable to 1&1 in product mix — fiber broadband, mobile, IPTV, and bundled devices — but focused on the Swiss market rather than Germany.
• M-Net Telekommunikations: Regional German fiber operator serving Bavaria and parts of the greater Munich/Frankfurt area with FTTH and DSL. A smaller, geography-focused peer that competes head-on with 1&1's fiber offering in its deployment regions.
• Swisscom: Incumbent DACH-region telecom providing fiber, mobile, TV, and cloud services in Switzerland. Operates a similar integrated connectivity+content+device bundle in a comparable DACH regulatory and competitive environment to 1&1's German market.
• PYUR (Tele Columbus): German cable/TV and broadband provider serving primarily regional/metropolitan footprints with HFC and FTTH. Offers a competing fixed broadband + TV bundle against 1&1's fiber and IPTV products, especially in regional markets where 1&1's own fiber is not yet deployed.

Direct peers

• congstar: Deutsche Telekom's discount mobile and DSL brand, operating as an MVNO/retail reseller on the DT network. Targets the same price-sensitive consumer and youth segments as 1&1 with no-contract tariffs and competitive bundled offers.
• freenet AG: German listed telecom offering mobile services (own brands and as an MVNO), IPTV, and digital lifestyle products. Competes with 1&1 in consumer mobile tariffs and reselling, with a similar discount/online positioning and significant overlap in customer segments.
• Telefónica Germany (O2): Third major German MNO providing mobile, DSL, and fiber under the O2 core brand plus discount brands. Crucially, O2 supplies national roaming to 1&1's mobile customers during the 5G buildout, making it both a direct competitor and a wholesale dependency.
• Vodafone Germany: One of the top three telecom operators in Germany, offering mobile, DSL/cable broadband, and TV. Vodafone's cable (Unitymedia) and mobile networks overlap directly with 1&1's DSL, fiber, and mobile offerings, and it competes aggressively on bundled pricing.
• 1&1 Versatel: Sister company under United Internet AG, providing fiber-based business connectivity, data center, and wholesale telecom services across Germany. Operates in adjacent segments (B2B fiber, wholesale) with shared infrastructure/parent economics, making it a closely comparable telecom operator.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Telekom AG: Germany's incumbent integrated telecom operator, offering fixed broadband (DSL/fiber), mobile (T-Mobile), IPTV, and bundled business services. Directly competes with 1&1 across all product lines but at significantly greater scale, with its own nationwide fiber and 5G network and dominant retail distribution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/1und1
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/1und1
• Facebookfacebook.com/1und1
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/10298
• Instagraminstagram.com/1und1

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 1&1 Internet SE