STOCKHOLM, Sweden, May 29, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Telia International Carrier (Telia IC) today announced a global partner program to approach the corporate market. As a result of the program, Telia IC has signed an agreement with Damovo SA, a global service company, as its first global channel partner. This announcement follows Telia's decision earlier this year to not target the corporate market directly, preferring instead to work with global channel partners.
The shift from being a carrier only selling on a wholesale level to also targeting the corporate market via partners, is now complete. The Telia IC Business Partner Program has enabled this shift. Access to more and larger sales channels via system integrators is the key.
"The program is especially suited for global system integrators and equivalents. We estimate the potential market value to be several billion euros," said Erik Heilborn, President Telia IC. The strong trend where IT meets telecom is very interesting and we foresee that within the year we will have contracted at least four of the world's ten global system integrators. As of today, we are pleased to welcome Damovo as our first global partner.
For Damovo, a global services company delivering corporate communications, the partnership with Telia IC means a new ability to offer their clients a strong combination of stability and reach of advanced communications services which can be tailored into a cost- effective full-service platform.
"According to our strategy, we will avoid competing with our partners," said Par Lindholm, Global Channel Manager, Telia IC and the architect behind the partner program. We can therefore ensure our contracted system integrators that we won't approach their customers directly. This, together with the fact that Telia IC is a strong partner on the market, with good hardware supplier contacts, is a factor beneficial to us.
The new partner program is a win-win-win situation for all parties. Today's system integrators need to integrate IT-services with telecomservices in order to contract end-customers to large service- level-agreements (SLA). To have access to a broad and flexible telecom product portfolio such as Telia IC's is a true sales advantage. The end- customer, on the other hand, can lean back and enjoy the fact that their IT and telecomsolutions are only one phone call away. For Telia IC the advantage of the program is apparent; larger market share and increased revenues.
About Telia International Carrier
Telia's wholly owned subsidiary, Telia International Carrier, provides IP, Capacity, Voice, Infrastructure services and carrier neutral colocation solutions. Today, the company is one of the leading European carriers of transatlantic IP traffic to the USA.Its wholly owned multi-fibre optic network - the Viking Network - provides high capacity bandwidth and offers end-to-end connectivity round the world. The network is a investment-intensive venture expanding Telia International Carrier throughout Scandinavia, Europe and the U.S.A. The infrastructure in Europe is designed as a multi-duct network connecting all significant cities with communication, supporting IP, Voice and Data. The network covers approximately 40,000 route kilometres throughout Europe and the U.S.A, connecting 50 major cities through 120 points of presence.
For further information journalists can contact: Magnus Nerell, Communication Director, Telia International Carrier Phone: +46 8 713 33 41, Mobile: +46 70 557 90 70
Telia is the Nordic leader in telecommunications. Over the past year, we have streamlined the Group, focusing our core businesses making the company more flexible. Our four core businesses are: Mobile communications, Internet services, International carrier operations and Fixed network operations. Telia is listed on Stockholmsborsen. Sales Jan- Mar 2002 totaled MSEK 13,900 (13,592) and the number of employees was 16,804 (29,936). Sales 2001 totaled MSEK 57,196 and the number of employees was 17,149.
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