OTE

Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation S.A., OTE Group is the largest technology company in Greece. It is one of the three largest companies listed in the Athens Stock Exchange, according to market capitalization.

For other uses, see OTE (disambiguation).

Hellenic Telecommunications Organisation S.A.
Οργανισμός Τηλεπικοινωνιών Ελλάδος Α.Ε.
Organismós Tilepikoinonión Elládos Α.Ε.
TypeAnónimi Etaireía
Athex: HTO
IndustryTelecommunications
Founded1949 (1949)
HeadquartersMarousi, Athens, Greece
Area served
Balkan Peninsula
Key people
Michael Tsamaz (Chairman)
ProductsFixedline telephony
Mobile Telephony
Broadband internet
Digital television
Fibre-optic communication
IT Services
Revenue €3.857 billion (2017)[1]
385,600,000 euro (2016) 
€174.5 million (2017)[1]
Total assets €7.102 billion (2017)[1]
Total equity €2.589 billion (2017)[1]
Owner
Deutsche Telekom(47%)
Government of Greece(5%)
Free float(47%)
ΟΤΕ(1%)
Number of employees
21,305 (2017)[1]
SubsidiariesCosmote
Cosmote TV
OTEGlobe
Germanos Group
OTE Plc
Websitewww.cosmote.gr/otegroup/en_index.jsp
Image of ΟΤΕ HQ in Marousi, Athens.

OTE Group offers fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband services, pay television and integrated Information and Communications Technology (ICT). At the same time, the Group is involved in a range of activities, notably satellite communications, real-estate and professional training. Formerly a state-owned monopoly, OTE's privatisation started in 1996 and is now listed on the Athens and London Stock Exchanges.

Today, OTE Group employs about 13,000 people in Greece and approximately 20,000 in total. Since July 2009 Deutsche Telekom is the largest shareholder of the company.

Shareholding structure

Starting in 1996, the Greek State gradually decreased its participation in OTE's share capital. Following an agreement between the Greek State and Deutsche Telekom, as of 5 November 2008 each party held 25% plus one share of OTE's share capital. Following a further sale of shares and voting rights, as of 11 July 2011 Deutsche Telekom's stake in OTE has risen to 40% while that of the Greek State amounts to 10%. Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HDRAF) announced on February 13, 2018 the opening of a tender procedure for the acquisition of 5% by the Greek state. The competition ended on Friday, March 16, 2018, with no interested parties. On the same day, HDRAF sent a letter to Deutsche Telekom with a proposal to buy back the shares for €284 million, with a 30-day deadline. Deutsche Telekom exercised its right of first refusal and the acquisition was completed in May 2018 through the Stock Exchange. Deutsche Telekom currently holds 45% of the company's shares and the Greek State owns 5%.

Subsidiaries

Greece
  • COSMOTE (100%): Mobile telecommunications services provider.
  • OTEGlobe (100%): International carrier with presence in SE Europe and a subsidiary of OTE Group. The company provides voice and data services to telecommunication providers and organizations in Greece and abroad.
  • OTESat-Maritel (94.1%): Satellite services for maritime communications. It is one of the four major providers of Inmarsat maritime satellite communication services in the world.
  • CosmoOne (61.7%): B2B (Business to business) electronic commerce applications and services – the largest provider in Greece.
  • OTEAcademy (100%): Education and advanced vocational training.
  • OTE Estate (100%): management of OTE Group's real estate assets.
  • OTE Insurance Αgency S.A. OTE Insurance Company, a solely owned subsidiary of OTE since 1997, specialized in private insurance. It provides its services to OTE Group, its Human Resources, as well as to the general public.
  • COSMOTE e-value (100%): Contact Center services.
  • GERMANOS (100%): technology products and telecommunications services.
  • Also owns 11888 and its own telephone directory.

International subsidiaries

Telekom Romania: OTE owns 54% of the share capital of Telekom Romania, the main telecommunications operator in Romania, providing integrated fixed-line services (voice, broadband, data and leased lines) and satellite TV services to the local market.

Financial data

For 2018, the Group reported turnover of €3,798.7 million. Adjusted EBITDA profit reached at €1,316.8 million and EBITDA margin increased by 0.6 points to 34.7%. Adjusted free cash flow (FCF) increased significantly to €344.7 million. The Group's adjusted net debt remained at €0.7 billion, equivalent to 0.6 times the annual adjusted EBITDA.

OTE GROUP2007200820092010201120122013201420152016 2017 2018
Revenues6,319.86,407.35,958.95,482.85,038.34,680.34,054.13,918.43,902.93,908.1 3,857 3.798,7
Pro-forma EBITDA2,240.82,320.92,168.01,919.41,731.81,656.91,456.31,421.61,3431,320.9 1,304 1.316,8
as % of Revenues35.5%36.2%36.4%35.0%34.4%35.4%35.%36.3%34.4%33.8% 34.2% 34,7%

History

OTE was founded on October 23, 1949[2] as a successor to the Hellenic Telephone Company (AETE), which was established in 1926, with the aim of consolidating all such public and private telecommunications companies. Formerly, telephony, telegraph, domestic and international connections were fragmented and under-coordinated.

Until 1998, the Greek telecommunications market was a monopoly. The market was opened to competitors and OTE was gradually privatized. Along with other telecommunications market providers, OTE is regulated by the National Telecommunications and Post Commission (EETT).

In 2007, Marfin Investment Group acquired 20% of the company, while in March 2008, sold it to German Deutsche Telekom, which later increased its stake to 25% plus one, matching that of the state.[3]

Following the sale of a further 5% in 2009[4] and another 10% in 2011[5] of OTE's share capital by the Greek state to Deutsche Telekom, the state holds 10% and Deutsche Telekom 40%. In 2018, Deutsche Telekom acquired an additional 5% of OTE as it exercised the right of first refusal to acquire 24,507,520 ordinary shares[6] as announced by HDRAF.

1949–1964
  • 23 October 1949: ΟΤΕ S.A. is founded (Legislative Decree 1049/49)
  • The first Greek telephone directory is published.
  • The TELEX service becomes operational.

1965–1989
  • The Greek long-distance telephone network is automated.
  • Laying of the submarine cable Greece-Italy MED 3 is completed.
  • The first antenna of the Centre of Satellite Communication in Thermopylae (the 6th in Europe) is set up.
  • The first fully digitised switching centres (long-distance and hub) of the EWSD/SIEMENS system are established.

1990–2000
  • ΟΤΕ expands to the Balkans, SE Europe and the Middle East.
  • ΟΤΕ is listed in the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE).
  • OTE is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).
  • OTE acquires an initial 35% stake in RomTelecom, the incumbent telephony company in Romania.
  • Acquires GSM License in Bulgaria and establishes Globul to exploit this license.

2000–2007
  • Satellite Hellas Sat2 is launched from Cape Canaveral.
  • OTE launches ADSL services in the Greek market.
  • OTE and COSMOTE act as Grand National Sponsors of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games.
  • OTE signs agreement to sell 90% of its holdings in ArmenTel (Armenia) for approximately €342 million.
  • The Greek State sells 10.7% of OTE share capital to institutional investors.
  • OTE makes available new speeds reaching 24Mbit/s.

2008–2010
  • OTE launches CONN-X TV (IPTV) to a limited number of existing clients for a trial period. This satellite TV was the predecessor of OTE TV.
  • OTE's broadband connection reach 970,000, with presence points in its network extend to 1,390, nationwide.
  • The agreement between the Greek Government and Deutsche Telekom is signed, according to which, since November 5, each will own 25% plus one share of OTE's share capital.
  • OTE acquires 100% of COSMOTE and its share is listed on the Athens Stock Exchange.
  • COSMOTE now owns 100% of GERMANOS SA, the leading retailer of telecommunications in the wider region of Southeast Europe.
  • Completion of the sale of COSMOFON in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia held by COSMOTE.
  • After the sale of an additional 5% of the Greek State's shares and voting rights, Deutsche Telekom's stake in OTE stands at 30% while the Greek State holds 20%. COSMOTE completes acquisition of Telemobil S.A. (Zapp) in Romania.
  • OTE introduces Conn-x TV, which is based on IPTV technology.
  • Michael Tsamaz, CEO of OTE Group's mobile arm COSMOTE, assumes the position of OTE President & CEO.
  • OTE delists from the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE).

2011–2017
  • Deutsche Telekom acquires an extra 10% of OTE share capital raising its stake to 40%.
  • The company signs three-year Collective Labour Agreement with the Federation of OTE Employees OME-OTE, achieving personnel costs reduction and securing employment for OTE regular employees.
  • Introduces OTE TV via Satellite and integrates all of the pay TV services it offers under the brand name OTE TV.
  • OTE signs agreement for the sale of the minority stake in Telecom Srbija (Serbia), of which owns 20%, for about €400 million.
  • Launches reduced prices of up to 25% for Double Play Unlimited Plans that combine Internet and unlimited telephony to fixed lines.[7]
  • OTE TV subscriber base reaches 100.000, following the continuous strengthening of the platform with new channels, services and HD content.[8]
  • Launches new VDSL Internet services, with speeds up to 50 Mbit/s.[9]
  • Successfully completes two Voluntary Redundancy Schemes, the incentives of which 1,516 people in the company accepted.[10]
  • Raises €700 million through 5-year fixed coupon notes, following the successful completion of a bookbuilding process.[11]
  • Announces the signing of an agreement to sell its 99.05% stake in Hellas Sat, to Arabsat, for 208 million euros, plus 7 million in dividends.[12]
  • Announces the signing of an agreement to sell its 100% stake in Cosmo Bulgaria Mobile EAD (Globul) and Germanos Telecom Bulgaria (Germanos) to Telenor, the Norwegian telecom operator. The agreement consideration reached €717 million (enterprise value).
  • OTE announced the expansion of its VDSL network with 367 local exchanges and 2,732 outdoor cabins activated in October and extending VDSL availability to 1.3 million households and businesses.[13]
  • On 26 October 2015 it establishes COSMOTE as a single brand for all its products and services.
  • In 2017, OTE's management announced that priority is to develop fiber optic networks and that total investment for the period until 2020 will amount to €1.5 billion.[14]

OTE Telecoms Museum

The OTE Museum of Telecommunications opened up to the public in 1990. It is housed in a 1000 m2 privately owned OTE building, in the district of 25 Proteos str.,14564 New Kifissia – Athens. The purpose of the Museum is the research, study and documentation of historical data pertaining to the evolution of telecommunications from ancient times to the present day. The Museum is a member of The International Committee for the Conservation of the Industrial Heritage (T.I.C.C.I.H.).

References
  1. "FY 2017 Statements". OTE.
  2. OTE Group Timeline
  3. Telecom.com, «EU Commission gives approval without any conditions to Deutsche Telekom’s investment in the Greek telecommunications group OTE», 10.02.2008.
  4. Reuters, «Greece to sell 5 pct OTE stake to Deutsche Telekom», 18.06.2009
  5. Reuters, «Greece sells 10 percent OTE stake to Deutsche Telekom», 06.06.2011.
  6. The Economist, “Deutsche Telekom to take another 5% stake in Greece’s OTE”, 22.03.2018.
  7. NEWSBOMB, "Reduced prices of up to 25% for two Double Play Plans", 10.05.2012. (in Greek)
  8. TELECOMPAPER, "ΟΤΕ TV passes 100,000 subscribers mark", 15.10.2012.
  9. Techblog, "OTE VDSL, High-speed internet speeds up to 50Mbps", 26.11.2012 (in Greek)
  10. Ekathimerini.com, "OTE Saving 80 million from voluntary redundancy”, 07.01.2013
  11. Naftemporiki, "OTE: 700 million euro issue of bonds completed", 30.01.2013 (in Greek)
  12. FE Investegate, "OTE: Agreement for the sale of Hellas Sat", 107.02.2013.
  13. TeleGeography, “OTE, Cosmote expand VDSL, LTE networks”, 15.07.2014
  14. Liberal.gr, "M. Tsamaz: Raising the bar for 2017 - OTE's three strategic goals" Archived 6 September 2019 at the Wayback Machine, 04.09.2017 (in Greek)
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