This Partnership will be mainly focused on innovation, purchasing and product development

Madrid/Reykjavík, 8 February 2017 – The Spanish and Icelandic telecommunications companies Telefónica and Síminn (Iceland Telecom) have signed a Partnership Agreement to engage on a wide range of business areas such as procurement, roaming, digital products and services and multinational services. The Strategic Partnership is supported by the Telefónica Partners Program, which includes other leading operators in Europe, Asia, Middle East and Africa. Telefónica is one of the largest telecommunication companies worldwide with presence in 21 countries and 349 million accesses.

Orri Hauksson, CEO of Síminn, says the aim of the partnership is not only to offer customers the latest technology as fast as possible, but also equipment at the best price. Innovation and development with Telefónica will make Síminn nimbler and obtain substantial results.

"We have been placing greater emphasis on innovation within Síminn and by 2020 we intend for 25% of our revenues to be generated from new products. It is an ambitious goal but necessary in a fast changing telecommunications market. The partnership with Telefónica is a milestone towards this goal,” he says: “It strengthens Síminn to have Telefónica by its side."

Guðjón Leifsson, head of innovation, leads the co-operation on behalf of Síminn:

"Telefónica operates its own Corporate University which alone shows the strength of the company. Now Síminn has good access to it and will enjoy the benefit of increased knowledge and experience as a result,” he says.

"Telefónica is a front runner, both in telecommunications and innovation. We admire how they are implementing Digital Services such as IoT, Big Data or Cybersecurity in all their markets and, particularly, in the UK, Germany, Spain and Brazil. Much of what Telefónica has already launched is being developed at Síminn. Therefore, we see immediate benefits of the partnership," Guðjón says.

Mario Martín, global head of Industrial Partnerships of Telefónica, says:

“We are very pleased with the alliance with Síminn, the leading telecommunications Company in Iceland. This Partnership will reinforce our Program as a way to jointly capture the opportunities the Digital transformation offer us. We are confident that this agreement will bring important benefits to both our Groups”.

ABOUT SÍMINN (ICELAND TELECOM)

Síminn (Iceland Telecom) is regarded as one of Iceland’s most reliable companies, affecting the daily lives of all inhabitants for well over a century. Offerings include a wide portfolio of communication services, for both private and corporate clients, including mobile, home phones, Internet connections and television, runs its own TV channel and streaming services.