Orbán agrees on long-term strategic cooperation with German telecommunications giant

Prime Minister Viktor Orbán discussed the outlooks, challenges and achievements related to digital developments in Hungary with Timotheus Hoettges, chief executive of German telecommunications giant Deutsche Telekom, in Budapest on Friday.

According to the press release on the meeting, Orbán and Hoettges were in agreement that digitalisation was of “key importance” to maintaining Hungary’s and Europe’s competitiveness and continue to consider each other “strategic partners” in the endeavour.

Promoting investments and supporting infrastructure development is of fundamental importance to meeting the European Union’s 2030 Digital Decade targets, they said.

Hoettges highlighted Deutsche Telekom’s role in Hungary’s digital development and in giving households and businesses access to the advantages and opportunities offered by the digital world. He noted that Deutsche Telekom’s local unit, Magyar Telekom, had spent over HUF 1,000 billion (EUR 2.7 billion) on capital expenditures in 2014-2022, of which 800 billion had been spent on fixed and mobile network upgrades.

Thanks to the developments of recent years, Magyar Telekom now offers Gigabit internet to more than 3.4 million households and businesses, he said, adding that it has increased its outdoor 5G coverage to 60 percent of the population. Advancing developments further will require a tax policy that encourages investments, Hoettges added.

In addition to infrastructure development, Telekom, in cooperation with the Hungarian government, supports the integration of technology, using innovative solutions and education platforms to encourage digital developments in small businesses, corporations and industry, he said.

Hoettges emphasised Magyar Telekom’s “strategic role” in the Deutsche Telekom Group and highlighted its long-term commitment to boosting the performance, productivity and competitiveness of the Hungarian economy.

Friday’s meeting was also attended by Economic Development Minister Márton Nagy and Magyar Telekom CEO Tibor Rékasi.