Telefonica wants to appeal to a broader range of companies as a potential partner as it pushes its M2M service.

The operator is making its M2M global channel partner programme available globally, starting in Europe.

Previously the programme was just running in the US where it attracted 80 partners in less than seven months.

The programme includes players such as device manufacturers, solution providers and distributors.

Mobile operators are finding the long-discussed prospects of the M2M market are delivering results. Vodafone yesterday announced a 30 per cent increase in revenue from that part of the business.

Telefonica will work with companies from the partner programme when it pitches its M2M service to multinational customers.

“We are really pleased with the success of the partner programme in the USA. It gives us a richer portfolio of M2M solutions to sell our customers,” said Rafael García Meiro, Telefónica Digital’s global partner sales unit director. “Now we are deploying our global channel partner programme in Europe as well. We’ll continue moving forward by developing the programme in other Telefónica regions and adding more Telefónica’s products to our portfolio, using the same proven partnership model.”

Separately, Telefonica participates as one of eight operators in the M2M World Alliance, which has a footprint across more than 60 countries. The group was formed in July 2012 with the rationale that all members would be strengthened by working together.