23 September 2002 -- Due to lower expectations on broadband expansion, delay of 3G build-out and insolvencies of carriers, Telia has changed the strategy of its Telia International Carrier business with a restructuring. This follows a review to clarify how it can reach positive cash flow during 2003.
Telia IC will limit its operations to offering wholesale capacity and IP services to large customers over the profitable parts of its wholly owned European and trans-Atlantic Viking network.
It will also continue to run the IP network and to maintain and operate its peering points and relationships in Europe and in the US. The international voice business will be focused on interconnect agreements and bilateral routes.
The restructuring programme includes shut-down of Telia's Asian operation and the national UK voice reseller business and discontinuation of domestic US capacity services. The co-location business will be terminated. The number of commercial points of presence will be reduced. Telia will centralise its resources for sales, finance, administration and customer care to Sweden.
The refocusing means a substantial scale down of the number of offices, technical facilities, operation and maintenance contracts as well as leased lines. The new carrier will be able to conduct global business with less than 50% of the current workforce of about 800 staff.
The restructuring programme will involve provisions of about SEK3.5bn (EUR384m), impacting the results in 2002 (mainly in Q3, including a write down of fixed assets by about SEK6bn, or EUR658m). In 2001 Telia wrote down assets by SEK3bn (EUR330m).