Digi Communications

Digi Communications N.V. is a Romanian multinational telecommunications company and mobile network operator specializing in integrated services including cable and satellite television, fixed and mobile telephony, and broadband internet, operating primarily in Romania, Hungary, Spain, and Italy.

Founded in 1992 in Romania by a group of individuals including Zoltán Teszári through the establishment of TVS Holding Brașov for cable TV infrastructure, the company expanded to Hungary in 1998 and pursued international growth, including entry into Spain in 2018 and an initial public offering on the Bucharest Stock Exchange in 2017.

Digi Communications has achieved market leadership in its core segments based on revenue-generating units, with over 90% of its networks in Romania and Hungary utilizing fiber optics, and it launched commercial 5G services in Romania in 2019, while continuing expansions into markets such as Portugal and Belgium.

History

First cable networks

Services

num employees	10 177 ‡R2R‡ (2023)

homepage	https://digi-communications.ro/

foundation	November 30, 1992‡R3R‡

location	Bucharest, Romania

Broadband internet

Digi implemented FTTB technology on almost the entire network in Romania and Hungary in 2006. Then followed the implementation of GPON in 2008, covering the houses as well. In 2013 started replacing FTTB with FTTH. They started the business in Spain in 2008.In 2018 Digi started offering internet services through FTTH in Spain. As of first half of 2023, it counts for 5.7 millions of clients.[14]

Mobile telephony

The company launched Digi Mobil in Romania in December 2007 which offered mobile telephony limited to 3G service only at the time. In 2014, the mobile phone service was relaunched, followed by the launch of 4G service on band 38 in 2015 and on band 1 in 2018.

After winning a mobile operator license in 2014 and numerous delays, the company launched mobile services in Hungary in 2019.

In Spain, due to the large number of Romanian residents, MVNO mobile telephony services were launched through Movistar in 2008. Initially, the company attracted Romanians because it offered cheap calls with Romanian networks. Vodafone Spain reacted after 1 year when it started losing customers by offering free calls with Vodafone Romania. This was followed by offers for Latin Americans. Then the company started offering internet at a low price, attracting Spanish customers. Digi became the second MVNO operator by number of customers.

Following the model in Spain, in 2010 Digi Mobil was launched as MVNO in Italy through TIM, but it was not as successful despite the fact that in Italy is a larger number of Romanians. Vodafone Italia began to offer free calls with Vodafone Romania and fixed networks before the launch of Digi Mobil.

Cable television

The company offers all channels in one package except premium channels.

Television channels

In July 2009, Digi launched the Digi Sport channels in Romania and Hungary. Then followed the Digi Sport channels in Slovakia and the Czech Republic in August 2010, which have been operated separately since 2013 following the takeover of Digi Slovakia by Slovak Telekom.

In the summer of 2010, it acquired 50% of Music Channel, which launched Hit Music Channel in January 2012. The company launched a generalist channel in December 2010, but due to the low audience it was closed. The premium movie channel Digi Film (now Film Now) was launched on 1 February 2011. In 2011, Digi acquired the UTV TV music channel.

Digi24 TV news channel was launched on 1 March 2012. Following disagreements with Discovery, the company launched 3 thematic channels in October 2012: Digi World, Digi Life and Digi Animal World. On 10 December 2018, Digi 4K was launched.

Energy supplier

In April 2015, Digi launched the energy supply service. The company had the most subscribers on the competitive market from the companies that do not have the distribution infrastructure in 2017. In 2019, it increased tariffs by 30% due to a tax added by the government and then by 20%. The company announced that it is gradually giving up the supply service due to the unusual volatility of the electricity price.[15]

type	Public
traded as	bvb: DIGI
isin	isin: NL0012294474
area served	Romania Spain Italy Belgium Portugal
key people	Zoltán Teszári (Chairman) Serghei Bulgac (CEO)
industry	Telecommunications
predecessor	TVS Holding Brasov (1992) Kappa (1993)
products	Fixed telephony Mobile telephony Broadband Internet television IoT
revenue	€1.70 billion (2023)‡R1R‡

Digi Communications

History

First cable networks

Development

2005-2014

Mobile development

Corporate structure

Services

Broadband internet

Mobile telephony

Cable television

Television channels

Energy supplier

Digi brand

Mobile frequencies

Romania

Shareholding

Subscribers

Controversy

See also

External links

References