Telefonica has selected six LTE technology providers to launch the test projects in six different countries with the view to rolling out fourth generation networks in the different regions where the Company operates. This project, coordinated globally and underpinned by the advantages afforded from the Company’s geographic scale, forms part of the process for selecting technology partners in LTE networks, the rollout of which Telefonica aims to be prepared as far in advance as possible, in line with its status as the international leader in innovation.

The suppliers Telefonica has chosen so far -Alcatel-Lucent, Ericsson, Huawei, NEC, Nokia Siemens Network and ZTE- will start rolling out the equipment necessary for testing the technology during the coming months, to get an advance look at its behaviour in the field. The project, opened to other suppliers, will take place over six months and will consist of field tests and the installation of e-node Bs.

The countries selected for testing are Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany and the Czech Republic in Europe, and Brazil and Argentina in Latin America.

Telefonica will start rolling out the first HSPA + services on its 3G network to allow data download transmission speeds of 21 Mbps this summer.

Telefonica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world in terms of market capitalization. Its activities are centered mainly on the fixed and mobile telephony businesses with broadband as the key tool for the development of both.

The company has a significant presence in 25 countries and a customer base that amounts more than 268 million accesses around the world. Telefónica has a strong presence in Spain, Europe and Latin America, where the company focuses an important part of its growth strategy.

Telefonica is a 100% listed company, with more than 1.5 million direct shareholders. Its share capital currently comprises 4.563.996.485 ordinary shares traded on the Spanish Stock Market (Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao and Valencia) and on those in London, Tokyo, New York, Lima, Buenos Aires and São Paulo.