Vodafone says its German business declined by 6.2% in the second financial quarter after a change in the law gave tenants in Multiple Dwelling Units (MDUs) the right to choose their own TV and broadband providers.
The communications company said it had retained 4 million MDU subscribers, in line with its expectations, and representing around half of the 8.5 million MDU households.
Bulk buying of TV services through landlords and letting agents represent a significant number of connections for Vodafone, which acquired the former Kabel Deutschland business in 2013.
The loss of the MDU customers also impacted the total TV customer base, which declined by 2.9 million during the period, primarily due to the MDU transition.
The much-anticipated ruling came into full effect in July 2024 and combined with a decline in Vodafone’s broadband base after price increases the previous year.
In October, Vodafone became the largest fibre provider in Germany through wholesale agreements with Deutsche Telekom & Deutsche Glasfaser allowing it to market gigabit speeds to almost 5 million households beyond our cable footprint.
