19 octobre 2021 Pierre Perrin-Monlouis
– Norwegian paper manufacturer expects to save 25 percent with solution that links 4,900 users at 36 locations in more than 18 countries –
WASHINGTON and OSLO, Norway (Dec. 2, 2003) – Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU), a recognized industry leader in global data and IP services for multinational businesses, has signed a $3 million deal to provide Norske Skog fully managed IP VPN and Private Dial remote access services.
Norske Skog is the world’s second largest manufacturer of publication paper, with 23 wholly- and partly-owned paper mills in 15 countries on five continents. The company decided to use Equant’s IP VPN solution as part of an extensive restructuring program. Faced with economic difficulties in the paper industry, Norske Skog has implemented a radical cost reduction plan called Improvement 2003. During 2004, the program is projected to save $282.6 million (NOK 2 billion), and according to Norske Skog’s calculations, Equant’s network solution will generate a 25 percent reduction in the company’s telecommunications budget.
“This agreement makes Equant a strategic business partner that enables us to easily carry out future market expansion,” said Lars Nestaas, senior advisor Communications, Norske Skog IT. “We chose Equant because it offers the best geographic coverage, best service portfolio and best service management organization. Equant is also the supplier with the widest presence in the Asia-Pacific region.”
As part of the Improvement 2003 program, Norske Skog focused strongly on its IT systems, which serve 4,900 users at 36 locations in more than 18 countries. It chose to outsource to Equant the management of its corporate network, which is shared by the whole company on a global basis. The managed service agreement allows Norske Skog to leverage Equant’s seamless network in 220 countries and territories and its local support in 165-plus countries. Equant will also monitor the Norske Skog IP VPN network around the clock and provide consistently high quality of service – an important requirement because many of the company’s offices are in remote countries where the incumbent carriers often deliver poor service.
Norske Skog will enjoy, among others, the following benefits:
· Global access to business-critical applications.
· Cost-efficient use of centrally-allocated IT resources.
· Classes of Service that allow prioritization of the company’s IP and data traffic.
· Strong Service Level Agreements (SLAs).
· A flexible and stable solution that permits easy expansion.
· End-to-end management by Equant of the network.
· Secure remote access for travelling employees and remote workers.
– more –
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“We are happy to welcome Norske Skog and its 4,900 employees to our fast-growing IP VPN family,” said Detlef Spang, Equant’s senior vice president, Sales and Marketing, Europe, Middle East and Africa. “Norske Skog employees will be able to securely log on to the company’s network from virtually anywhere in the world, including when they are travelling abroad or working from home. Of special importance to a company like Norske Skog that is expanding its operations, new services and applications may be easily added to this flexible IP VPN solution.”
About Equant
Equant (NYSE: ENT) (Euronext Paris: EQU) is a recognized industry leader in global data and IP network and integration services for multinational businesses. The Equant network has unmatched seamless reach, connecting key business centers in 220 countries and territories, with local support in more than 165 countries. Building on more than 50 years of experience in data communications, Equant serves thousands of the world’s top companies with the industry’s most extensive portfolio of managed network services, including the market-leading IP VPN used by 950 global businesses as of Oct. 1, 2003. Equant, a subsidiary of France Telecom, was named Best Global Carrier 2003 and Best Managed Service 2003 at the World Communication Awards and consistently leads industry surveys in corporate user satisfaction.
About Norske Skog
Norske Skog is a global supplier of publication paper with mills and sales offices on five continents. Our core business is newsprint and magazine paper for some of the world’s major publishing houses. We are a major user of recovered paper. The company is based in Norway and is quoted on the Oslo Stock Exchange. Norske Skog has a 13 percent share of the global market for newsprint and magazine paper. Norske Skog was established in 1962, and its first newsprint machine came on line in 1966. Acquisitions, construction of new capacity and mergers made the company the undisputed leader of Norway’s paper and pulp industry during the 1970’s and 1980’s. In the 1990’s Norske Skog built a strong European platform through acquisitions and new plant construction in Norway, France, Austria and the Czech Republic. Since 2000 the company has become a leading global player, with activities in Asia, North America, South America and Australasia as well. Since 1999 the company has divested about 40 units outside its core area, publication paper, and is now virtually 100 percent concentrated on publication paper.
During 1992-2002 operating revenue grew from NOK 7.6 billion to NOK 23.5 billion, and its market capitalisation from NOK 1.8 billion to NOK 13 billion.
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This release may contain projections or other forward-looking statements related to Equant that involve risks and uncertainties. Readers are cautioned that these statements are only predictions and may differ materially from actual future results or events. Readers are referred to the documents filed by Equant with the SEC, specifically the most recent filing on SEC Form 20-F, which identify important risk factors that could cause actual results to differ from those contained in the forward-looking statements, including, among other things, risks relating to Equant’s history of operating losses, the unpredictability of growth in Equant’s markets, changing technology, uncertain and changing regulatory restrictions, Equant’s international operations, dependence on suppliers, network security issues, competition, and volatility of Equant’s stock price and risks relating to the combination with Global One. All forward-looking statements are based on information available to Equant on the date hereof, and Equant assumes no obligation to update such statements.
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Norske Skog
Lars Nestaas
Senior advisor Communications, Norske Skog IT
+47 67 59 90 95
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