"Attiva il telefono."

Translation: He activates the phone.

[joanbr]

what does "activate the telephone" mean?

[Chris123456]

Probably loosely just means something like "plugs it in" but have you seen those lovely old phones where they used to have to wind a handle on the side to generate a signal to the operator? That would be activation!! :)

[wiplala]

and how about if you buy a new mobile phone, you have to activate it by plugging in a simcard. :)