Vodafone Netherlands
{{Infobox company
| name =
| logo = 172px
| type = Subsidiary
| foundation = {{sda|1995|09}} (as Libertel)
| founder = Nationale-Nederlanden
| location_city = Maastricht
| location_country = Netherlands
| key_people = Stephen van Rooyen (CEO)
| industry = Telecommunications
| products = Mobile telephony
Wireless broadband
| num_employees =
| owner =
| parent = VodafoneZiggo
| homepage = {{URL|www.vodafone.nl}}
}}
Vodafone Libertel B.V. is the third largest mobile phone company in the Netherlands, and was previously called Libertel. It is part of VodafoneZiggo, a joint venture between Ziggo and Vodafone Group.
It offers 2G GSM, 2.5G GPRS on the 900 MHz frequency band, 4G LTE on the 800 MHz, 1500 MHz, 1800 MHz, 2100 MHz and 2600 MHz frequency bands, and 5G NR services via dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS) on band n3 (1800MHz) and non-DSS on band n28 (700MHz) and band n78 (3500MHz). It previously offered UMTS, HSDPA, and HSPA+ 3G services (on the 2100 MHz frequency band) until their shutdown in February 2020.{{cite web |url=https://groeimeenaar4g.vodafone.nl/ |title=Groei mee naar 4G |publisher=Vodafone Netherlands |lang=nl |trans-title=Grow along to 4G |access-date=2020-01-05 }}
Vodafone Netherlands currently has 5.584 million mobile customers.{{cite web |url=https://d1ize34iqy408p.cloudfront.net/documents/VodafoneZiggo_Fixed_Income_Q4_2024_FINAL.pdf|title=Fourth quarter 2024|date=18 February 2025 |website=VodafoneZiggo}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Vodafone Netherlands currently operates one subbrand using its network called hollandsnieuwe (launched in January 2011).
As of 2008, Vodafone Netherlands is based in Maastricht and Amsterdam and has around 2,800 employees.{{Cite web|url=http://www.vodafone.nl/over_vodafone/organisatie_Vodafone/|title=Over Vodafone|website=www.vodafone.nl|language=nl|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616053217/http://www.vodafone.nl/over_vodafone/organisatie_Vodafone/|archive-date=2009-06-16|access-date=2018-06-03|quote=gevestigd in Maastricht [..] ruim 2800 medewerkers}}
History
Libertel was founded in September 1995 with financial backing from Nationale-Nederlanden (NN) to compete with KPN.{{Cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/economie/het-lange-lijden-van-libertel~b4c254ec/|title=Het lange lijden van Libertel|date=14 January 2003|website=de Volkskrant|language=nl-NL|access-date=2018-06-03}} Libertel was the second company in the Netherlands to get a license for offering GSM services (after PTT Telecom).{{Cite web|url=https://www.volkskrant.nl/nieuws-achtergrond/mobiele-telefonie-libertel-duikt-fors-onder-prijzen-ptt-telecom~b0ee855a/|title=Mobiele telefonie Libertel duikt fors onder prijzen PTT Telecom|date=21 September 1995|website=de Volkskrant|language=nl-NL|access-date=2018-06-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mobilecowboys.nl/b/vodafone-libertel-15-jaar-in-nederland?bid=50800|title=Vodafone (Libertel) 15 jaar in Nederland {{!}} MobileCowboys.nl|date=30 September 2010|website=www.mobilecowboys.nl|language=nl|access-date=2018-06-03}}
The corporate structure started with a holding partnership named CV Gemeenschapplijk Bezit Libertel containing three wholly owned subsidiaries: Libertel Groep B.V. (the holding company), Libertel B.V. (the cellular network operator), and Liberfone BV (the service provider).{{Cite web|url=https://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone/investors/20f/1997_20-f.pdf|title=Vodafone Group - Annual Report 1996/97|date=March 31, 1997|pages=15, 68}}
The six original shareholders were ING, Vodafone, Vendex, Liof, Internatio-Müller, and Macintosh Retail Group.{{Cite web|url=https://www.trouw.nl/home/beursgang-libertel-brengt-ing-miljarden~a65dea90/|title=Beursgang Libertel brengt ING miljarden|date=1 June 1999|website=Trouw|language=nl-NL|access-date=2018-06-03}} In early 1998, Vendex and Liof both sold their shares for 120 million guilders. Internatio-Müller and Macintosh each sold their shares for 48 million guilders. By the end of 1998, ING lowered its share from 52% to 30%, leaving Vodafone with 70%.{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/904255/0001047469-99-015815.txt|title=DEFM14A {{!}} AIRTOUCH COMMUNICATIONS INC|date=1999-04-22|website=SEC.gov}}
= Vodafone acquisition =
In June 1999, Libertel went public on the Amsterdam Stock Exchange as Libertel NV (ticker symbol: LTEL).{{Cite web|url=https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/containers/fix033/839923/0000891836-99-000684.txt|title=Form 6K {{!}} VODAFONE AIRTOUCH plc|date=3 September 1999|website=SEC.gov}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vodafone.com/content/dam/vodafone/investors/20f/1999_20-f.pdf|title=Form 20-F SEC filing {{!}} VODAFONE AIRTOUCH plc|date=June 30, 1999}} Following the IPO, ING retained 5% (down from 30%) while Vodafone's share of 70% remained unchanged. In 2000, Vodafone changed the brand name for Libertel to "Libertel-Vodafone".
In 2002, Libertel-Vodafone was rebranded to "Vodafone" and saw major branding changes by the Vodafone Group. Other Vodafone subsidiaries also went through a similar transition, aiming to establish the first global mobile telecommunications company with a familiar 'look and feel' throughout the world.
Vodafone Group performed a buyout in 2003 of the shares in Vodafone Libertel N.V. that it did not already own. At this time, Libertel was delisted from the Euronext Amsterdam stock market.{{Cite web|url=https://www.telegeography.com/products/commsupdate/articles/2003/02/12/vodafone-seeks-to-up-its-stake-in-libertel/|title=Vodafone seeks to up its stake in Libertel|last=TeleGeography|date=12 February 2003|website=www.telegeography.com|language=en-us|access-date=2018-06-03}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/vodafone-presses-ahead-with-buyout-of-libertel-118813.html|title=Vodafone presses ahead with buyout of Libertel|date=13 February 2003|work=The Independent|access-date=2018-06-03|language=en-GB}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2003/press_release09_04.html#|title=Final results of Vodafone's offer for Vodafone Libertel: Vodafone to increase shareholding in Vodafone Libertel to 98.2%|date=9 May 2003|website=www.vodafone.com|access-date=2018-06-03}} in favour of Vodafone Libertel BV Dutch subsidiary Vodafone Group's pre-existing Dutch.
On September 30, 2007, Vodafone Libertel changed its type of business entity type from NV to BV, henceforth trading as Vodafone Libertel BV.{{Cite web|url=https://uitspraken.rechtspraak.nl/inziendocument?id=ECLI:NL:RBUTR:2012:BW3206|title=Rechtbank Utrecht, SBR 11-2600|date=2012-04-20|language=nl|access-date=2018-06-03|quote=Vodafone Libertel B.V. [..] is per 30 september 2007 de rechtsopvolger van Vodafone Libertel N.V.}}{{Cite news|url=https://drimble.nl/bedrijf/eindhoven/23399007/vodafone-libertel-bv.html|title=Vodafone Libertel BV|last=drimble.nl|access-date=2018-06-03|language=nl-NL|quote=Per 30-3-2007 statuten gewijzigd. Naam gewijzigd in: Vodafone Libertel B.V. (naam was voorheen Vodafone Libertel N.V.)}}
In 2011, the Macintosh Retail Group sold BelCompany and Telefoonkopen.nl to Vodafone Netherlands for 120 million euro.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nu.nl/beurs/2474511/macintosh-verkoopt-belcompany-vodafone.html|title=Macintosh verkoopt BelCompany aan Vodafone|date=22 March 2011|publisher=NU.nl|access-date=2018-06-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.telecompaper.com/nieuws/vodafone-neemt-belcompany-over-voor-120-miljoen-euro--793177|title=Vodafone neemt BelCompany over voor 120 miljoen euro|date=22 March 2011|website=www.telecompaper.com|language=nl|access-date=2018-06-03}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vodafoneziggo.nl/68/onze-historie|title=Historie|website=VodafoneZiggo|access-date=2018-06-03}} By 2016, Vodafone had either closed or rebranded the BelCompany stores.{{Cite news|url=https://tweakers.net/nieuws/117699/vodafone-gaat-in-vijf-jaar-alle-belcompany-winkels-sluiten.html|title=Vodafone gaat in vijf jaar alle BelCompany-winkels sluiten - update|date=9 November 2016|work=Tweakers|access-date=2018-06-03|language=nl-NL}}{{Cite news|url=https://androidworld.nl/nieuws/vodafone-stopt-met-belcompany-winkels/|title=Vodafone stopt met Belcompany-winkels|date=9 November 2016|work=Androidworld|access-date=2018-06-03|language=nl}}
On 3 April 2012, Vodafone Libertel acquired Telespectrum Telecommunicatie B.V.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=83288601|title=Telespectrum - Company Information|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2018-06-03|quote=As of April 3, 2012, Telespectrum Telecommunicatie B.V. operates as a subsidiary of Vodafone Libertel}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtlnieuws.nl/economie/vodafone-neemt-telespectrum-over|title=Vodafone neemt Telespectrum over|website=RTL Nieuws|access-date=2018-06-03}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.emerce.nl/nieuws/vodafone-neemt-cloudtelefoonbedrijf-telespectrum|title=Vodafone neemt cloudtelefoonbedrijf TeleSpectrum over - Emerce|date=3 April 2012|work=Emerce|access-date=2018-06-03|language=nl-NL}}
On 1 October 2015, Vodafone Libertel acquired mITE Systems B.V.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=312686589|title=Hoofdkantoor mITE Systems B.V.: Private Company Information - Bloomberg|website=www.bloomberg.com|access-date=2018-06-03}}
=Ziggo merger=
A merger was announced on 16 February 2016 with Ziggo. The European Commission approved the merger in August 2016, on the condition that Vodafone splits off its fixed-line internet business.{{cite web |url=https://www.telecompaper.com/news/ec-clears-merger-of-ziggo-vodafone-netherlands--1156259 |title=EC clears merger of Ziggo, Vodafone Netherlands |date=3 August 2016 |website=telecompaper}} The new parent company for both Ziggo and Vodafone, called VodafoneZiggo, with a 50/50 joint ownership by Ziggo and Vodafone, was created on 31 December 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.ziggo.com/resources/documents-new/16%2012%2031%20-%20Closing%20NL%20JV%20transaction%20-%20FINAL%200900GMT.pdf|title=Liberty Global and Vodafone complete Dutch joint venture, creating a fully-converged national communications operator|date=31 December 2016|publisher=VodafoneZiggo}}{{Cite web|url=https://markets.ft.com/data/announce/detail?dockey=1323-13082435-6I3MOLQ5G69NJ6GO3197DRG9C2|title=Liberty Global and Vodafone complete Dutch JV|date=3 January 2017|website=markets.ft.com|publisher=Financial Times|language=en-us|access-date=2018-06-04}}{{cite web|work=Vodafone|title=Liberty Global and Vodafone to merge their Dutch operations|url=https://www.vodafone.com/content/index/media/vodafone-group-releases/2016/lg-vodafone-merge-dutch-operations.html|access-date=1 January 2017}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Official website}}
{{Dutch mobile operators}}
{{Vodafone}}
{{Liberty Global}}