Lidl Partners with 1GLOBAL for Mobile Plans in 30 Countries

Lidl, the German discount supermarket chain, announced a strategic partnership with telecommunications provider 1GLOBAL on Monday to launch affordable mobile phone plans across up to 30 countries, including the United Kingdom, later this year. The deal positions Lidl as a mobile virtual network operator, allowing it to offer prepaid services without building its own infrastructure by partnering with local mobile networks.

Under the five-year agreement, the Schwarz Group, Lidl's parent company, will acquire a 9.9 percent stake in 1GLOBAL, which will serve as the exclusive technology partner. This collaboration builds on Lidl's existing prepaid mobile offerings through its Lidl Connect brand, available since 2015 in countries such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. The new plans aim to provide flexible, high-quality connectivity without long-term contracts, integrated into the Lidl Plus loyalty app, which has over 100 million users. Customers will be able to manage services digitally, emphasizing simplicity and accessibility for everyday devices.

Julian Beer, executive vice president of purchasing at Lidl International, described the initiative as "democratizing mobile...