Telefónica Retains Gartner Leadership Position in Global Managed IoT Connectivity Services for Twelfth Consecutive Year

Telefónica Retains Gartner Leadership Position in Global Managed IoT Connectivity Services for Twelfth Consecutive Year

(IN BRIEF) Telefónica has been named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Managed IoT Connectivity Services Worldwide for the twelfth consecutive year. Through Telefónica Tech, the company continues expanding its IoT connectivity portfolio with technologies including 5G, NB-IoT, satellite connectivity, private 5G networks, and edge computing solutions. Its Kite platform enables organizations to centrally manage connected devices and SIMs globally while incorporating advanced AI capabilities and new eSIM functionalities based on the SGP.32 standard. Telefónica’s managed IoT services support industries such as energy, manufacturing, automotive, agriculture, healthcare, and smart cities, helping organizations accelerate digital transformation and deploy connected technologies more efficiently and securely.

(PRESS RELEASE) MADRID, 13-May-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Telefónica has once again been named a Leader in the 2026 Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Managed IoT Connectivity Services Worldwide, marking the twelfth consecutive year the telecommunications group has received the distinction.

The recognition highlights Telefónica’s continued expansion and development of its Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity services through Telefónica Tech, the company’s digital business division. During 2025, the company continued strengthening its IoT technology portfolio by expanding support for advanced connectivity technologies such as 5G and NB-IoT, while also increasing the reach of its services through satellite-based connectivity solutions designed for remote and difficult-to-access environments.

Telefónica stated that its managed IoT connectivity services enable businesses and public-sector organizations to securely monitor, manage, and control connected assets through Kite, the company’s proprietary IoT management platform. The platform provides centralized real-time visibility over SIM management and connected devices globally, allowing organizations to remotely operate and oversee IoT deployments from anywhere in the world.

The company also highlighted the continued evolution of Kite’s artificial intelligence capabilities. These include a natural language assistant, behavioral segmentation models, and automated handling of a significant percentage of operational support tickets. In addition, Kite now incorporates eSIM functionalities based on the new SGP.32 industry standard, enabling more agile switching between connectivity providers and facilitating the deployment of IoT services across multiple geographic markets.

Telefónica’s IoT services support a broad range of industries, including energy, utilities, automotive and mobility, retail, manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and smart city infrastructure projects. The company noted particularly strong capabilities within industrial environments, where it combines managed IoT services with private 5G networks and edge computing technologies for mission-critical industrial applications.

Darío Cesena, Head of IoT at Telefónica Tech, said the company’s ongoing investment in IoT connectivity and the continuous development of the Kite platform have become important differentiators in the market. He noted that the platform helps organizations connect and manage millions of devices globally while enabling more efficient, secure, and sustainable data-driven decision-making processes.

Cesena also stated that the company’s expanding portfolio of digital connectivity services is helping a growing number of businesses accelerate digital transformation initiatives while supporting Telefónica’s broader strategy of becoming a leading technology gateway for citizens, enterprises, and public administrations.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant for Managed IoT Connectivity Services Worldwide report was authored by analysts Pablo Arriandiaga, Kameron Chao, and Jon Dressel, and published on 4 May 2026.

Headquartered in Madrid, Telefónica is one of the world’s largest telecommunications companies, providing mobile communications, broadband, digital infrastructure, cloud, cybersecurity, and IoT services across Europe and Latin America.

Telefónica, S.A.
Dirección de Comunicación Corporativa
email: prensatelefonica@telefonica.com
telefonica.com/en/communication-room/

SOURCE: Telefónica