NET DIGITAL AG subsidiary MBE concludes far-reaching framework agreement as platform operator for direct carrier billing with 1&1

Düsseldorf, 3 August 2023 – Mobile business engine GmbH (MBE) - a wholly owned subsidiary of net digital AG (ISIN: DE000A2BPK34, ticker symbol: VRL) - has concluded a far-reaching framework agreement with 1&1 Mobilfunk GmbH, a company of 1&1 AG, for Direct Carrier Billing. Through this agreement, 1&1 will enable its approximately 12 million mobile customers to conveniently pay for digital products and services via their mobile phone bill in the future.

As a financial services provider regulated by BaFin (German Federal Financial Supervisory Authority) with more than ten years of market experience, MBE offers payment functions in all German mobile networks. As a so-called aggregator, MBE enables a steadily growing number of merchants to access mobile customers. For the new 1&1 mobile network, MBE has developed its own "carrier grade platform" for the first time and acts as its operator. The subsidiary of net digital AG is thus expanding its portfolio and is able to further deepen its value-adding activities.

In addition to premium text messaging and premium voice services, 1&1 mobile customers will in future be able to have additional services billed via their mobile phone bill using the MBE platform. These include paid downloads from app stores, access to games and video portals, local transport tickets, event and concert tickets, newspaper articles behind paywalls or media subscriptions. This service portfolio is to be expanded in the future to include further innovative services.

For the operation of the platform and the associated services, MBE receives a fixed monthly remuneration as well as variable shares - based on the transactions made. At the same time, MBE benefits from a growing range of merchants, which the company is driving forward as an aggregator on behalf of 1&1.

Theodor Niehues, CEO of net digital AG: "We are very pleased about the comprehensive partnership with 1&1. For us, this has a high strategic relevance for the further development of our company and underlines our competence and excellent market position."

Michael Martin, CEO of 1&1 Mobilfunk GmbH: "With MBE and net digital, we have experienced partners at our side through whom we will offer our mobile customers secure, simple and broad access to attractive pay services in our innovative Open RAN mobile network from the very beginning."

About net digital AG

net digital AG is a partner of many medium-sized and large companies from the telecommunications, media and entertainment industries. It develops global and individually adapted digital payment solutions with a focus on digital content distribution via its own technology platform. The solutions for the distribution of contents centre on the areas of entertainment, music and videos. The around 250 international customers of net digital AG include, for instance, large telecommunications and media groups as well as various public transportation companies. Through its technology platform, net digital AG reaches more than 100 million consumers. The shares of net digital AG are traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange under the symbol "VRL" (ISIN: DE000A2BPK34, WKN: A2BPK3).

About 1&1 AG

1&1 AG is a listed telecommunications provider headquartered in Montabaur. The company is part of the United Internet AG group of companies. 1&1 offers its customers a comprehensive portfolio of mobile and broadband accesses. In addition, attractive bundle products from mobile and stationary networks as well as value-added applications such as home networking, online storage, video-on-demand, smart home solutions or IPTV. While the 1&1 brand addresses value and premium segments, the Group's discount brands address price-conscious target groups.

Following its successful participation in the 5G frequency auction, 1&1 is the fourth German network operator to build Europe's first fully virtualised mobile network based on innovative Open RAN technology.

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