Finland Elisa and Fujitsu Finland enter into extensive partnership

As a result of this collaboration customers will be offered top-notch and easily manageable total service from a single supplier. It will include both fixed and mobile telecommunication services by Elisa, and IT infrastructure services according to Fujitsu's Patja operating model. These elements will be interconnected through applying shared service management methods and processes. The collaboration will be built up in gradual steps to be full-blown by the end of 2005.

"We will be providing our customers with the most inclusive service seen on the market. Our partnership with Fujitsu further strengthens Elisa's ICT offering. The customers will be able to take advantage of both suppliers' core competencies", Director Pasi Lehmus of Elisa points out.

"IT and telecommunication are steadily converging. It was already more than a year ago that Fujitsu's Patja service crossed the line, expanding to incorporate telecom services, which has proven to be a fruitful direction to take. Together with Elisa our mission is to achieve market leadership position in providing ICT outsourcing services", says Director Taija Engman of Fujitsu.

Along with the partnership agreement Elisa's telecom solutions will be gradually incorporated in Fujitsu's Patja services. Fujitsu will be purchasing telecom services from Elisa both for their own use and to be integrated in end-to-end solutions for customers. Elisa, in turn, will be offering Fujitsu's Patja services for their customers' end-to-end solutions.

The partnership becomes effective in stages, within the constraints of the current partnership agreements. The newly signed contract shall not have any direct impact on Fujitsu's old Patja agreements in ICT field, whereas in service offerings the partnership will be materialised immediately. Valued-added services for mobile work will be launched first. Elisa starts selling Patja immediately, and also the development of a shared ICT concept will be initiated right away. The services included in the operating model will be launched one by one over the upcoming years.

Elisa and Fujitsu will also be collaborating in developing wireless solutions utilising 3G technology. Elisa will provide Fujitsu with mobile services, while Elisa's customers will have access to Fujitsu's mobile applications for remote work.