Competing wireless development groups from AEG and Siemens Halske joined forces in 1903 to form the „Gesellschaft für drahtlose Telegraphie mbH“, which later became Telefunken. A large number of commercial receivers helped Telefunken to get an excellent reputation in maritime and in military communications.

In 1979, the company was renamed AEG - Telefunken Aktiengesellschaft, and the fragmented company group was near bancrupcy in 1982. Telefunken managed to get back on a solid financial basis and produced civilian and military communication systems. Financially, the French Thomson CSF took over the group, and after merging with DASA (Deutsche Aerospace) and Daimler Benz, the manufacturer of commercial communications technology is now called Telefunken RACOM.