More than 120 of the telecommunications and service companies which operate in the German market are active in the VATM. All of them are in direct competition with the ex-monopoly Deutsche Telekom AG and are working for more competition in the telecommunications market – for the benefit of innovations, investments and employment. Since liberalization in 1998 the competitors have made investments totalling around € 74 billion in the fixed network and cellular telephone areas. The new fixed network and cellular phone companies safeguard over 52.600 jobs in Germany, as well as about 50 % of the employment in the supplier firms as well.