O2, the customer-friendly brand, arrives in Spain

The telecommunications sector is particularly challenging. Customers in Spain, increasingly informed, know what they need and are asking operators for offers that match their needs. Telefónica, which operates in Spain under the Movistar brand, decided in 2018 to respond to the needs of a growing group of customers who need excellent connectivity without other added services. To do so, it decided to import one of its iconic brands, O2, with which it operates in the UK and German markets. Under the leadership of Pedro Serrahima, one of the industry's most brilliant executives, Telefónica launches O2 as its premium single brand for the Spanish market.

The cable girls return home

In the spring of 2018, Telefónica and Netflix reach a historic agreement to broadcast all of the US giant's content on the Movistar Plus+ platform. This is the first step for Telefónica's television platform to become an aggregator of content, entertainment, sport and in-house production that makes life as easy as possible for customers. The agreement is announced for the first time via social media with a very special video. The chairman of Telefónica, José Mª Álvarez-Pallete, telephones the global CEO of Netflix, Reed Hastings, to sign at the same time this historic agreement thanks to which, among many other series, Movistar customers could finally watch Las chicas del cable, Netflix Spain's first own production, which was precisely about the life of a group of telephone operators in the 1920s.

Telefónica launches in six countries Aura, its Artificial Intelligence

At the 2018 Mobile World Congress (MWC) we announced the first version of Aura, Telefónica's Artificial Intelligence, in six countries (Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Germany, Spain and the United Kingdom), although its presentation to the world had been made a year earlier at the same fair. Aura was born to allow customers to easily know and manage their "digital life" related to Telefónica from own apps such as My Movistar, Meu Vivo, My O2, Movistar Plus+ or third-party channels such as Facebook or Whatsapp, among others. In October 2018, the commercial launch of the Movistar Home device took place in Spain. From then on, customers could, just with their voice, select a favorite Movistar Plus+ content, ask for recommendations or make calls, among many other things.

Wayra re-launches to integrate open innovation in Telefónica

Wayra, the investment vehicle for technology entrepreneurship launched in 2011, is undergoing a major global relaunch in 2018 to refocus on finding startups that can grow and make Telefónica's business grow. With this new approach, Wayra - which also unveiled its new image - is strengthening its Academies in all countries to find local talent to provide technological solutions for Telefónica and its customers, offering startups not only investment but also scale.

Alejandro Valverde, cycling world champion

The 2018 World Championships in Innsbruck (Austria) will provide Movistar Team and its undisputed leader with one of the greatest moments in its history. 15 months after brutally crashing into a fence at the start of the 2017 Tour de France, Alejandro Valverde became the world cycling champion in his rainbow jersey. "El Bala", backed by the entire Movistar Team, managed to win the gold medal and renew the enthusiasm of bike fans, and ours too!

EnlightED, a global epicentre of debate on education, technology and innovation, is born

In October 2018, the Chairman of Telefónica, José María Álvarez-Pallete, presents a project that is relevant beyond our borders and our business, enlightED, the conference on education, technology and innovation promoted by Fundación Telefónica, IE University and South Summit. In a context marked by a new technological revolution, major changes and technological accumulation, this international event aims to create a movement to reflect on the future of education and employability in order to develop the best talent. Since then, enlightED has been held every year, with the world's most relevant voices in the field, in a free event complete with lectures, workshops and experiences, accessible both in person and via streaming.