Supervisory Board decision:CTIO Mallik Rao also responsible for the business customer division as well as “Data Platforms and Central AI” at O₂ Telefónica

The Supervisory Board of Telefónica Deutschland Holding AG has decided to give Chief Technology & Information Officer Mallik Rao (Yelamate Mallikarjuna Rao) additional responsibility for the business customer division (B2B) as well as the data platforms and central artificial intelligence activities of O₂ Telefónica with immediate effect. In this context, Mallik Rao has been re-appointed as Management Board member ahead of schedule and his contract has been extended until 4 November 2028. The additional area of responsibility will be reflected in the new title “Chief Technology & Enterprise Officer” with the start of the new contract period on 5 November 2024.

Under Mallik Rao, O₂ Telefónica has raised network quality to a new level in recent years. The O₂ Telefónica mobile network has been rated “very good” by the trade journal connect for four years in a row¹⁾. Network performance is on a par with the competition. In addition, the technology division has expanded the modern 5G standard faster than any other mobile technology before. Today, O₂ Telefónica already reaches 96 percent of the population with 5G – just four years after the launch of the new technology standard. At the same time, Mallik Rao has spearheaded the digital transformation of O₂ Telefónica's IT systems, with a consistent focus on modern cloud architectures and new tech ecosystems.

“I look forward to continuing the successful development of the business customer segment of O₂ Telefónica together with our dedicated team and to further expanding its range of digital solutions for companies. With our combined expertise in technology, business customer services and sales, as well as data and AI, we want to be the best point of contact for small, medium and large companies when it comes to digital communication and state-of-the-art connectivity solutions,” says Mallik Rao. As part of the changes, it is planned to create data platforms as well as centralized AI tools in Mallik Rao's new management division, which will serve as a basis for further utilization in the company. O₂ Telefónica currently uses more than 50 AI applications that enable added value in the triple-digit millions per year, for example in terms of more efficient and accelerated processes. Mallik Rao has been a member of the company's Management Board as Chief Technology & Information Officer since 15 October 2019. With his Technology division, he has already been responsible for industrial connectivity solutions such as private 5G networks or SD WAN. His existing contract would have run until the end of 2025. The new contract is dated until4 November 2028. Mallik Rao previously held a senior management position at the Indian mobile provider Aircel and was CTIO at Vodafone Netherlands and Vodafone Turkey, after working for TATA Telecom, ERICSSON – including sales responsibility – and Nortel Networks. Mallik Rao studied communications engineering and holds a bachelor's degree from Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Aurangabad in India. He brings with him extensive experience from seven countries in which he has lived and worked. Mallik Rao lives in Munich, is married and has two children.