Preliminary Results for the First Quarter 2026 of Tele Columbus AG
- Reported EBITDA increases to EUR 43.2 million (Q1 2025: EUR 32.5 million; +33.0% YoY) – driven by efficiency measures and strict cost discipline
- Normalised EBITDA grows to EUR 44.2 million (Q1 2025: EUR 39.1 million; +13.0% YoY)
- Quarterly revenue largely stable at EUR 105.5 million (Q1 2025: EUR 104.9 million; +0.6% YoY) – growth in internet and telephony business offsets declines in the TV business
- Revenues in internet and telephony business increase to EUR 61.2 million (+6.5% YoY)
- Internet RGUs grow to 746k (+5.3% YoY) – Tele Columbus remains one of the few major German providers with continuous growth in the internet segment
- Capital expenditure (CapEx, excl. leasing) of EUR 18.0 million (-49.8% YoY) – continuation of a selective, customer-oriented roll-out strategy with an unchanged focus on fiber
Berlin, May 28, 2026. Tele Columbus AG, one of Germany’s leading fiber network operators, today published preliminary key figures for the first quarter of 2026. The full quarterly report will follow in mid-June 2026.
Christoph Lüthe, CEO of Tele Columbus AG: “We have made a good start to the year 2026. Our internet and telephony business continues to grow and remains the key driver of our development. With the wholesale cooperation with 1&1 agreed in early May 2026, we are unlocking additional growth potential for our network. Over the remainder of the year, we will focus on sustaining this growth in our core business and on advancing our fiber roll-out in a targeted manner.”
Internet and telephony business remains the growth engine
The internet and telephony business remains the key growth driver. Revenues in the first quarter of 2026 rose to EUR 61.2 million (Q1 2025: EUR 57.5 million; +6.5% YoY), while internet RGUs increased to around 746k (Q1 2025: 708k; +5.3% YoY). In a broadband market that remains highly competitive, Tele Columbus is therefore among the few major German providers with sustained customer growth. In households served by FTTH, internet penetration of approximately 45% is noticeably above the level in the coax-based footprint (around 30%).
The wholesale cooperation with 1&1 agreed in May 2026 establishes the basis to market the fiber optic infrastructure to approximately 1.2 million additional households over time.
TV business remains stable at market levels
Cable TV RGUs remained stable in the first quarter of 2026 at around 1.01 million (Q1 2025: 1.08 million). The development in the first quarter was primarily driven by two one-off effects: the disposal of a non-strategic foreign signal footprint and a data-driven booking effect from Q4 2025 with no revenue impact. Excluding these effects, RGU development remained broadly in line with current market trends.
Investments with continued focus on fiber
Capital expenditure (CapEx, excl. leasing) amounted to EUR 18.0 million, 49.8% below the prior-year quarter (Q1 2025: EUR 35.9 million). The decline reflects more selective capital allocation, while maintaining a clear focus on the expansion of the fiber optic infrastructure and the modernisation of the existing network.
Significant earnings improvement
Reported EBITDA increased in the first quarter of 2026 to EUR 43.2 million, compared to EUR 32.5 million in the prior-year quarter (+33.0% YoY). Key drivers were the transformation and efficiency measures implemented, together with consistent cost discipline in personnel, marketing and direct costs. Normalised EBITDA rose to EUR 44.2 million (Q1 2025: EUR 39.1 million; +13.0% YoY). A partially offsetting effect resulted from lower capitalised own work in connection with the reduced investment activity.
Tim Rhönisch, CFO of Tele Columbus AG: “The earnings development in the first quarter shows that our transformation and efficiency initiatives are taking effect. We have noticeably improved our profitability and are at the same time investing in a more targeted manner – with a clear focus on fiber and network modernisation. We will maintain this course over the remainder of the year, combined with strict cost discipline and a targeted capital allocation.”
