freenet DLS GmbH

What freenet DLS GmbH does

freenet DLS GmbH is a German mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) and telecommunications retailer headquartered in Büdelsdorf, Schleswig-Holstein, founded in 1992. The company resells mobile tariffs from all three major German network operators — Telekom, Vodafone, and o2/Telefónica — under the freenet brand, allowing consumer and small-business customers to compare and subscribe to plans across multiple networks through a single point of purchase. It operates as a subsidiary of the publicly listed freenet AG (Frankfurt Stock Exchange), alongside sister brands such as klarmobil.de, freenet-funk.de, mobilfunk.de, and mega-sim.de.

The product portfolio spans SIM-only tariffs (offered on both 24-month contracts and monthly cancellable terms), smartphone and tablet contracts bundled with devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, and Motorola, eSIM activation services, 5G router bundles for residential broadband, and a dedicated business-customer tariff line. The company extends beyond mobile into television through freenet TV (DVB-T2 terrestrial broadcasting) and a distribution partnership with EXARING AG for waipu.tv IPTV streaming (Perfect Plus tier at €11.99/month). Distribution combines an e-commerce storefront at freenet.de with a physical retail store network and third-party dealer partners across Germany.

Revenue is generated primarily through recurring mobile-plan subscriptions, one-time hardware sales tied to device-bundle contracts, and subscription TV fees. Customer segments include price-sensitive individual consumers, families using multi-line plans, small-to-medium businesses requiring fleet mobility, and travelers via freenet Travel tariffs. Operational differentiators are multi-network tariff aggregation, hybrid online-plus-physical retail reach, and the umbrella of the freenet AG parent group for scale and brand backing.

Name

freenet DLS GmbH

Legal name

freenet DLS GmbH

Website

https://freenet-mobilfunk.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1992

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

freenet DLS GmbH is a German MVNO and telecommunications retailer (founded 1992, ~343 employees) that resells mobile tariffs from Telekom, Vodafone, and o2/Telefónica to consumers and SMBs via online and physical retail channels, bundled with device, TV, and broadband offerings.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Mobile Telecommunications Services

NAICS

Telecommunications Resellers (517121), Telecommunications Resellers and Agents for Wireless Telecommunication Services (51712)

SIC

Radiotelephone Communications (4812)

akta.pro primary industry

Mobile Virtual Network Enablers & Full MVNO Operators (HDAIAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industry

Enterprise & B2B Mobile Network Operators (HDAIAAAB)

Keywords

• Mobile telecommunications services
• Mobile virtual network operator
• Smartphone retail sales
• Mobile tariff comparison
• IPTV streaming services

Headquarters

HQ city

Büdelsdorf, Schleswig-Holstein

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Operations, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Mobile Plan Subscriptions: Monthly recurring subscription revenue from mobile tariffs (Allnet Flats, data plans) sold on 24-month contracts or monthly cancellable terms. Revenue generated from network access fees paid by customers for voice, SMS, and data services across partner networks.
2. Device Sales: One-time revenue from sales of smartphones (Samsung, Apple, Google, Xiaomi), tablets, and accessories, sold with contract bundles or standalone without contract.
3. TV Services: Revenue from freenet TV (DVB-T2 antenna TV) and waipu.tv streaming service subscriptions, including equipment like the waipu.tv 4K Stick and premium packages such as Perfect Plus at €11.99/month.
4. Ancillary Services: Additional revenue from SIM replacement, additional SIM cards, roaming services, and device setup/installation services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

freenet DLS GmbH operates as a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) in Germany, reselling mobile tariffs from Telekom, Vodafone, and o2/Telefonica networks. The company sells smartphones, tablets, and accessories both bundled with 24-month mobile contracts and as standalone devices, supplemented by freenet TV (DVB-T2 antenna TV) and waipu.tv IP-based streaming services.

Product overview

freenet DLS GmbH operates a telecommunications retail platform offering mobile phone tariffs across all major German networks (Telekom, Vodafone, O2/Telefonica), device sales (smartphones and tablets from Apple, Samsung, Google, Xiaomi, Motorola), TV services including freenet TV (DVB-T2 antenna-based) and waipu.tv streaming, 5G routers, and digital services through its mobile app. The core offering consists of mobile contracts with or without bundled devices, supplemented by TV/entertainment add-ons and customer management services.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• freenet Mobilfunk (Mobile Tariffs)

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Telekom DeutschlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork partnership where freenet resells mobile tariffs from the Telekom network. freenet offers various Telekom tariffs including Magenta Mobil, Magenta Young, and data-only plans. This is a core distribution partnership for the MVNO model.
• Vodafone DeutschlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork partnership where freenet resells mobile tariffs from the Vodafone network. freenet offers Vodafone GIGA tariffs and data plans, providing customers with access to Vodafone's network coverage.
• o2 / Telefónica DeutschlandcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork partnership where freenet resells mobile tariffs from the o2/Telefónica network, including unlimited data plans (O2 Free Unlimited) and various data packages.
• EXARING AG (waipu.tv)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerStrategic partnership with IP-TV provider EXARING AG to offer waipu.tv streaming services to freenet customers. freenet distributes waipu.tv products including the 4K Stick and Perfect Plus subscription package at €11.99/month. Joint marketing and product bundling arrangements.

Scale indicators1 record

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• High Mobile (Drillisch brand): Drillisch/1&1 sub-brand offering low-cost tariff packages through online channels. Competes with freenet DLS's SIM-only and budget device-bundle propositions and represents the aggressive digital-only flank of the MVNO market.
• Congstar: Telekom Deutschland's consumer MVNO brand, selling mobile and fixed-line tariffs on the Telekom network. Competes head-to-head with freenet DLS in the price-conscious German consumer segment, particularly among customers attracted to the Telekom network specifically.
• 1&1 AG (Drillisch): Germany's largest MVNO group, operating the 1&1, WinSIM, PremiumSIM, yourfone, and smartmobil.de brands across consumer and business mobile. Direct competitor in multi-network tariff resale, online price-led acquisition, and device bundles; closest like-for-like peer to freenet DLS GmbH.
• Tchibo mobil: German consumer MVNO running on the o2/Telefónica network, branded through Tchibo's retail footprint. Comparable target segment (price-sensitive consumer) and similar MVNO-on-MNO economics; competes for the same contract-led customer base.
• mobilcom-debitel (now part of 1&1): Long-established German multi-network mobile reseller with a comparable store-and-online distribution model to freenet DLS. Now integrated into the 1&1 group but historically a parallel national retail-led MVNO competing for the same consumer mobile-shopper audience.

Emerging players

• MediaMarkt / Saturn (MediaMarktSaturn): Major German consumer electronics retailer that bundles mobile tariffs from Telekom, Vodafone, and o2 with device sales in physical stores. Comparable channel role in handset-led contract acquisition, but not an MVNO itself; acts as a competing acquisition surface for the same pool of multi-network device buyers.

Broad incumbents

• Telefónica Deutschland / o2: One of freenet DLS's three underlying MNO partners and a direct retail competitor with full network ownership. Functions as a broad incumbent peer: comparable in-store retail and contract offerings, but operates its own radio network and benefits from full vertical economics freenet DLS cannot access.
• Vodafone Deutschland: Second underlying MNO partner of freenet DLS and a direct competitor in consumer mobile contracts, devices, and converged TV (GigaTV). Comparable offering breadth (mobile + TV + broadband) but with network ownership advantages that freenet DLS as a reseller cannot replicate.

Regional players

• Lebara Mobile Germany: MVNO brand focused on international calling and ethnic-segment prepaid offers in Germany, running on partner MNO infrastructure. Comparable reseller business model and customer-acquisition mechanics, but differentiated by prepaid and international-calling positioning rather than full postpaid multi-network aggregation.
• Lyca Mobile Germany: International-focused MVNO operating on a partner German MNO network, serving ethnic and travel-oriented customer segments with mobile and roaming products. Comparable reseller/MVNO structure and target demographic of price-sensitive international-calling consumers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xfacebook.com/freenet
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCy4JL5-eT7YLyI51KpfZhoQ
• Instagraminstagram.com/freenet/?hl=de
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mobilcom-debitel

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 freenet DLS GmbH