Telefonica S.A.
| Telefonica S.A. | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Industry | Telecommunications |
| Founded | 1924 |
| Headquarters | Madrid, Spain |
| Area Served | Worldwide |
| CEO | Cäsar Alierta |
| Products | Fixed Line and Mobile Telephones, Internet Services, Digital Television |
| Market Value | 72,038.1 m$ |
| Employees | around 120.000 (2014) |
| Website | www.telefonica.com |
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About Telefónica[edit]
With a presence in 22 countries, such as Spain, United Kingdom, Germany, Ireland, Czech Republic and Latin America (Mexico, Brazil among others), and with a customer base that counts more than 316.1 million, Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunications companies in the world. The company specializes in mobile, fixed and broadband networks, and an innovative portfolio of digital solutions. Within the Telefónica family there are the brands Telefónica, Movistar, O2 and Vivo.
Engagement in Cultural Diplomacy[edit]
The challenges facing telecommunications companies has forced businesses to adapt and reform, a process that Telefónica has reacted to quickly to ensure its long term success. Telefónica is ready to lead in the process of digital transformation and play a major role in this new ecosystem by providing the best that technology can offer, so that everyone can enjoy this fascinating world (Telefónica 2014). Telefónica has a sustainability policy that is based on 4 pillars, namely people, society, planet and responsible management. Further, based on the company’s support provided to their employees as well as individuals and their different sponsoring and partnerships in the fields of sports, arts, music and film, Telefónica shows a high involvement in Cultural Diplomacy.
Employment Policy[edit]
With over 120.000 employees in 22 countries worldwide, Telefónica actively promotes employee diversity. The company implemented an Ethical Code, which encompasses a series of guidelines aimed at guiding them through their daily activities. One of Telefónica's principles is making sure that everyone has the same opportunities to grow and succeed. As Telefónica is expanding all around the world, developing a diverse workforce has become more important than ever. The company's Business Principles, consisting of different initiatives such as fair and equal promotion and pay policies, transparent recruitment processes, individual career development, flexible working models that recognise family commitments and ensuring a healthy work/life balance were approved by the board in 2006 and are applicable to all employees worldwide. Furthermore, general principles of Telefónica are based on honesty, integrity and trust, respect for the law and for human rights. All these elements are part of their Ethical Code and the company strives to implement them consistently. In order to keep their employees duly informed about this ethical code and to reflect on its importance, Telefónica offers training courses, which is obligatory for all staff and helps them in carrying out of their daily activities.
Education[edit]
International Internship Programs[edit]
Telefónica offers programs for a diversity of interns, including graduate and undergraduate students. Amongst the early career opportunities, recent graduates can join Telefónica as a graduate, an intern, an apprentice or on a work experience placement. The company organizes a Graduate Program and an Intern Program, which consist of a paid 12-month internship. In addition, Telefónica offers international career opportunities. Individuals have the freedom to take their career as far as they want, with possibilities for places in operations in Europe, Latin America and Asia. Telefónica also promotes ‘Talentum Startups’, which is an initiative providing professional experience and incentives for entrepreneurship to technology university students and graduates. Talentum gives young people the opportunity to work on IT start-ups with professional accelerators and mentors (Telefónica 2014).
Grants and Scholarships[edit]
Fundación Telefónica, established in 1998, has been responsible for implementing the social and cultural initiatives of the Telefónica Group. It is through this foundation that the company interacts with society and contributes to building the future. Over the past years Fundación Telefónica has awarded multiple grants and scholarships, among others to international students in order to facilitate their study at university. In 2011, 16 young Colombians received scholarships and in 2012 the foundation awarded 70 scholarship to young students in El Salvador. These are the so called “Becas Plus” scholarships, which cover up to 90% of the registration fees (Fundación Telefónica). In 2013, the foundation offered English language grants to young boys and girls in Ecuador in order to learn and study English.
Notable Activities[edit]
Activities in the Field of Humanitarian Aid[edit]
Telefónica has launched different projects in Europe, South America and the US to reduce poverty, educate people and support people with disabilities. The company also donated a large sum to the flood victims in Colombia in 2010 and Telefónica Czech Republic assisted the people in Haiti after the earthquake.
Supporting Sports[edit]
From the very start, the Telefónica Group has taken part in many social activities by sponsoring, above all, sporting, cultural and social activities. Since 2011, the company is the official sponsor of the Movistar Team, a Spanish professional bike racing team. Besides this involvement in cycling, Teléfonica also sponsors the Spanish football teams Real Zaragoza and Valencia CF, and the Telefónica sub brand O2 is the main sponsor of both the England Rugby Team and the Irish Rugby Union Team. In addition, Telefónica was a major sponsor of the Renault F1 Team until Fernando Alonso's departure a few years ago. Through O2, Telefónica also indirectly sponsored the BMW Sauber team. Furthermore,Telefónica sponsored the Ford Focus WRC during seasons 2000-2002, when Carlos Sainz drove for the team. After his transfer in 2003 to the Citroën team, Telefónica followed him and sponsored the Citroën rally team. Teléfonica was also a major sponsor of different racing teams in MotoGP in the early 2000s. They have, however, ceased this sponsorship.
Supporting Music, Film and Visual Arts[edit]
Besides the sponsoring of sporting events, Telefónica also sponsors cultural activities such as the “Vivo Open Air” in Brazil, which are film projections with music concerts, and the “Movistar Free Music” in Argentina, which offers free concerts to Movistar customers. In support of the visual arts and in aiming to raise the recognition of artists, the Fundación Telefónica awards, since 1999, the VIDA or International Art and Artificial Life Awards. The Telefónica Group furthermore supports the Prado Museum in Madrid, the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao as well as the Museum of Modern Arts of Sao Paolo.
