Telefónica Transformation Handbooks 2025: Innovation, progress, sustainability, and more

Once again, and coinciding with the Mobile World Congress, we present the Telefónica Transformation Handbooks 2025: four publications exploring the latest trends in Innovation, Progress, Sustainability, and Open Gateway. These documents compile practical cases and measurable results, demonstrating our commitment to a secure and sustainable digital transformation that benefits society.

Innovation Handbook

This handbook highlights some of our key technological projects in digital innovation. Topics covered include Network Slicing in the 5G era, a technology that transforms critical communications through programmable networks. One notable example is its implementation in Extremadura, where it enhanced emergency rescue operations for 112 by enabling priority, real-time communications.

5G Network Slicing and Cloud 'Push To Talk' enhance coordination and decision-making during an emergency.

We also explore the use of LEO satellites to provide connectivity in remote and disaster-affected areas, delivering speeds of up to 300 Mbps and low latency, ensuring effective emergency response.

The Fourth Façade of Espacio Movistar is a 23-meter-long, 4-meter-high LED screen that uses Generative AI to display content.

Additionally, we feature Espacio Movistar, our innovation hub at Telefónica's Gran Vía headquarters in Madrid. This center combines digital technology with restored historical elements, offering immersive experiences and promoting AI to enhance visitor interaction.

Security in the quantum era

The Innovation Handbook also addresses security in the quantum computing era through our Quantum-Safe Networks initiative. Quantum computing is set to revolutionize sectors such as medicine and information security, but it also presents significant cybersecurity challenges. Future quantum computers will be able to break existing encryption algorithms, compromising classical encryption confidentiality.

Quantum-safe Networks protect infrastructures, devices, and data against quantum attacks.

One emerging threat is the "store-now-decrypt-later" practice, where malicious actors store encrypted data today with the intention of decrypting it in the future using quantum technology. To counter this risk, Telefónica is implementing solutions that combine classical cryptography with post-quantum algorithms, adding an extra layer of protection to networks, industrial IoT connectivity, and services.

Progress Handbook

The Progress Handbook documents initiatives that enhance security and operational efficiency across various industries. One case study is our collaboration with the Levan Center of Innovation in Florida, where Telefónica Tech has deployed cybersecurity solutions based on the NIST framework and SOC-as-a-Service. This partnership protects digital assets and ensures enterprise and government security in the region.

Another example is the success case of Hunter Latam, a service that leverages IoT connectivity and advanced geolocation to recover stolen vehicles through real-time tracking, even beyond the original country's network coverage. This case highlights how IoT connectivity is used for asset protection and operational optimization.

Telefónica Tech’s IoT solution, through the Kite Platform, has enabled Hunter Latam to efficiently recover stolen vehicles.

Sustainability Handbook

Sustainability is a core priority at Telefónica. The Sustainability Handbook highlights our commitment to responsible digitalization, aligned with ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) criteria. It presents data showing how Telefónica has reduced energy consumption by 7.9% since 2015, despite an 8.3x increase in data traffic over the same period.

We have also cut CO₂ emissions by 52% and developed Eco Smart solutions, which in 2024 helped prevent 17.4 million tons of CO₂ emissions.

As part of our commitment to digital inclusion, Telefónica’s 5G coverage now reaches 74% of our markets. We aim to connect 106 million homes with fiber optics by 2026.

Through Fundación Telefónica, we have trained over one million people in digital skills, promoting employability and reducing the digital divide. At the same time, security remains a priority: we operate a global network of Security Operations Centers (SOC) to protect customer data and digital assets.

Additionally, we promote ethical AI, aligned with European Union principles, ensuring trustworthy, inclusive, and transparent technological development.

Open Gateway Handbook

The Telefónica Open Gateway Handbook explains our role in the GSMA's global initiative, which transforms telecommunications networks into programmable platforms. Through global APIs, Telefónica—alongside 69 telecom operators—facilitates access to advanced network capabilities for developers and businesses, enabling the standardized, interoperable creation of new digital services.

Open Gateway enables the development of safer and more sustainable digital services, unlocking new opportunities in the digital ecosystem.

Currently, Telefónica offers a portfolio of 11 APIs focused on anti-fraud solutions and other advanced services in Spain, Brazil, and Germany. This initiative has also led to the creation of Aduna, a company bringing together more than a dozen global operators to accelerate Open Gateway adoption and standardize APIs worldwide.

■ Open access to the Telefónica Transformation Handbooks 2025 →