Telefónica Tech, the digital services arm of Spain’s Telefónica Group, has agreed to transfer its cybersecurity and cloud operations in Colombia, Mexico, and Chile to Spanish technology firm hiberus. The transaction, aimed at streamlining operations and refocusing on higher-value markets, includes Telefónica Tech’s activities in the three Latin American countries and remains subject to customary regulatory approvals and closing conditions. Financial terms were not disclosed.
Under the agreement, Telefónica Tech and hiberus will maintain a strategic alliance that enables Telefónica Tech to continue serving its multinational clients in the region without changes to current service offerings. Telefónica Tech said the transaction will not affect existing contracts or service continuity for those customers.
Telefónica Tech will retain ownership of its Digital Operations Center (DOC) in Colombia, which will continue to operate normally and serve its current client portfolio. The companies also confirmed that the transaction will be structured to ensure continuity of labor conditions and existing employment contracts, in compliance with local regulations.
For hiberus, the acquisition strengthens its position in Latin America and accelerates its expansion in markets it considers strategic for growth. The company said the deal enhances its cybersecurity and cloud capabilities by incorporating specialized teams that will lead its regional operations. “With this transaction, we reinforce our capabilities in cybersecurity and cloud by incorporating a highly specialized team that will lead our presence in Latin America,” hiberus CEO Sergio López said in a statement.
Telefónica Tech framed the sale as part of a broader effort to simplify its organizational structure and concentrate on digital and technology solutions with higher added value. Under this strategy, the company is focusing its operations on Telefónica Group’s priority markets: Spain, the United Kingdom, Germany, and Brazil. “This agreement is a natural step in our evolution as a digital services company within the Telefónica Group, under the new Transform & Grow strategic plan,” said María Jesús Almazor, Telefónica Tech’s chief operating officer for Spain and the Americas.
The transaction aligns with Telefónica Group’s longer-term strategy to reduce its footprint in Latin America outside Brazil. Telefónica Executive Chairman Marc Murtra reiterated in November 2025 that the group’s exit from several Latin American markets follows a strategy first defined in 2019 and reaffirmed in the Transform & Grow plan. The company has already divested operations in countries including Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador, Uruguay, and Peru.
Telefónica’s 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, released in June, forecasted a gradual withdrawal from Mexico, a market where its Movistar brand still serves around 23 million users but faces persistent profitability challenges. These challenges stem largely from its 2019 network-sharing deal with AT&T, which reduced capital expenditure but limited operational control and growth capacity. With intensifying competition from Telcel, AT&T Mexico, and emerging mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs), Telefónica’s potential exit could reshape Mexico’s telecom landscape, consolidating power among incumbents or opening opportunities for new digital players.
According to Bloomberg Línea, Telefónica SA is also implementing a broader cost-reduction plan that includes charges of about US$2.9 billion. Telefónica employs about 80,000 people globally, including roughly 25,000 in Spain.