mediaWays GmbH

mediaWays GmbH was a German internet service provider and hosting company founded in 1996 as a joint venture between Bertelsmann and debis Systemhaus, based in Gütersloh. Its initial purpose was to build a dial-up network in Germany for AOL. Over time, this network was also used by other providers such as CompuServe, RTL, and Lycos (through its Comundo service). The company also connected corporate customers including Toyota and Bertelsmann itself. As a second business pillar, mediaWays established server services, operating web portals for RTL, Spiegel Online, Focus, and providing end-customer services such as mail servers and homepage servers for dial-up users. In 2000, debis was taken over by Deutsche Telekom. To avoid antitrust conditions—mediaWays held a 35 percent market share as the second-largest narrowband reseller after Telekom—the mediaWays shares were sold, and Bertelsmann acquired them. In mid-2000, mediaWays expanded to the United Kingdom to build a dial-up network for AOL there as well. In February 2001, Telefónica acquired mediaWays entirely for 1.6 billion US dollars. In May 2001, mediaWays acquired the hosting provider Paderlinx. In February 2003, the company was merged with HighwayOne (which Telefónica Data had acquired in February 2002) and renamed Telefónica Deutschland GmbH. The mediaWays brand thus represents an early chapter in German internet infrastructure, bridging the dial-up era and the consolidation of European telecommunications assets under Telefónica. Its legacy continues within Telefónica Deutschland, which today operates the O2 brand in Germany.

mediaWays GmbH was founded in 1996 as a joint venture between Bertelsmann and debis Systemhaus in Gütersloh, Germany. Its primary mission was to build a dial-up network in Germany for AOL. This network was subsequently used by other providers, including CompuServe, RTL, and Lycos through its Comundo service. The company also connected corporate customers such as Toyota and Bertelsmann to the internet. As a second business area, mediaWays established server services, operating web portals for RTL, Spiegel Online, Focus, and providing end-customer services like mail servers and homepage servers for dial-up users. In 2000, debis was acquired by Deutsche Telekom. To avoid antitrust issues—mediaWays held a 35 percent market share as the second-largest narrowband reseller after Telekom—the mediaWays shares were sold, and Bertelsmann took them over. In mid-2000, mediaWays expanded into the United Kingdom to build a dial-up network for AOL there. In February 2001, Telefónica acquired mediaWays entirely for 1.6 billion US dollars. In May 2001, mediaWays acquired the hosting provider Paderlinx. In February 2003, the company was merged with HighwayOne (acquired by Telefónica Data in February 2002) and renamed Telefónica Deutschland GmbH. The mediaWays brand ceased to exist as a separate entity, but its infrastructure and operations became part of Telefónica Deutschland, which today operates the O2 brand in Germany.

• 2003

  Merged with HighwayOne and renamed Telefónica Deutschland GmbH.

• 2001

  Telefónica acquired mediaWays entirely for 1.6 billion US dollars.

• 2001

  Acquired hosting provider Paderlinx.

• 2000

  debis acquired by Deutsche Telekom; mediaWays shares sold to Bertelsmann to avoid antitrust issues.

• 2000

  Expanded to the United Kingdom to build a dial-up network for AOL.

• 1996

  Founded as a joint venture between Bertelsmann and debis Systemhaus in Gütersloh.

Second-largest narrowband internet provider in Germany in the late 1990s, serving both consumers and corporate clients.

• Dial-up internet access

  Network used by AOL, CompuServe, RTL, and Lycos.

• Web hosting and server services

  Operated web portals for RTL, Spiegel Online, Focus, and provided mail and homepage servers.

1. 1MediaWays – Wikipediade.wikipedia.org
2. 2mediaWays GmbH – Wikidatawikidata.org
3. 3Telefónica Deutschland: Startseitetelefonica.de
4. 4Mehr Datenvolumen, integrierte Sicherheit und internationale Services | Telefónica Deutschland stellt Mobilfunktarife für Unternehmen neu auftelefonica.de
5. 5Home Corporate ENtelefonica.de
6. 6Smartphone Magazin Netztest: Note „Sehr gut“ für das o2 Netztelefonica.de