Hellenic Telecommunications Organization S.A. (OTE Group) is the largest telecommunications and IT company in Greece and a subsidiary of Germany-based Deutsche Telekom. It is also one of the three largest companies listed in the Athens Stock Exchange, according to market capitalization.
OTE Group offers fixed-line and mobile telephony, broadband services, pay television and integrated Information and Communications Technology (ICT). At the same time, the Group is involved in a range of activities, notably satellite communications, real-estate and professional training. Formerly a state-owned monopoly, OTE's privatisation started in 1996 and is now listed on the Athens and London Stock Exchanges.
Since July 2009 Deutsche Telekom is the largest shareholder of the company.
History
OTE was founded on 23 October 1949[2] as a successor to the Hellenic Telephone Company (AETE), which was established in 1926 to consolidate all such public and private telecommunications companies. Formerly, telephony, telegraph, domestic and international connections were fragmented and under-coordinated.