STOCKHOLM, Sweden, Dec. 17, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Telia (Nasdaq:TLSN) has signed a functional agreement with Axfood in which, Telia has committed itself to provide a complete solution for telephony and data communications over a three-year period. An agreement has also been signed with Axfood to provide fixed line and mobile telephony services at fixed rates. The agreement are valued at approximately SEK 100 million.
The functional agreement will give Axfood a communications solution connecting the offices, warehouses and approximately 500 retail stores of the Axfood Group in Sweden and the rest of the Nordic region.
"The solution as a whole will give Axfood major possibilities to develop an advanced group-wide communications systems, despite the fact that Axfood's operations are spread over a wide geographic area," said Gunnar Flinta, Sales Manager for Telia Partner.
The telephony solution includes 2,000 extensions, of which the majority are distributed over eight MD PBXs. Extensions will be provided for retail stores through a Centrex solution within the same network group. In Centrex, the switching function is located at the nearest AXE central office.
Axfood's data communications will also be co-ordinated on a Nordic basis through a Wide Area Network (WAN) with 35 connection points. Axfood's WAN solution is based on Multi-VPN, a virtual private network service and proprietary Telia product that is extremely reliable and secure in operation. Most of Axfood's retail stores will be connected to the network through ADSL or ISDN connections. All connections provide Internet access.
"Axfood will be able to streamline its operations substantially. The company's telephony and datacom systems are configured to allow Axfood to expand them without having to make major new investments," said Gunnar Flinta.
For further information journalists can contact: Telia Sweden Gunnar Flinta, Sales Manager +46 70 269 39 99 Torbjorn Larsson, Press Manager +46 70 527 20 33.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release may contain forward-looking statements regarding Telia's exchange offer to Sonera's shareholders and warrantholders. Statements that are not strictly historical statements, including statements about Telia's and Sonera's beliefs and expectations, constitute forward-looking statements. By their nature, forward-looking statements are subject to risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that will occur in the future. Telia and Sonera are under no obligation to, and expressly disclaim such obligation to, update or alter their forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.
Restrictions on Ability of Certain Persons to Participate in the Exchange Offer Due to restrictions under the securities laws of Australia, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Italy, Japan, New Zealand and South Africa, the exchange offer will not be extended to persons with registered addresses in, and who are residents of, any of Australia, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China, Italy, Japan, New Zealand or South Africa.
Cautionary Disclaimer/Legend The combination of Sonera and Telia is being implemented through an exchange offer being made by Telia to all shareholders of Sonera. The contents of this document are neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell shares of Telia. Any offer in the United States will only be made through a prospectus, which is part of a registration statement on Form F-4, which Telia filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on October 1, 2002.
Sonera shareholders who are U.S. persons or are located in the United States are urged to carefully review the registration statement on Form F-4, the prospectus included therein and other documents relating to the offer that Telia has filed or will file with the SEC because these documents contain important information relating to the offer. You are also urged to read the related solicitation/recommendation statement on Schedule 14D-9 that was filed by Sonera with the SEC on October 1, 2002 regarding the offer. You may obtain a free copy of these documents at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. You may also inspect and copy the registration statement on Form F-4, as well as any documents incorporated by reference therein, and the Schedule 14D-9 at the public reference room maintained by the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20549. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for further information about the public reference room. These documents may also be obtained free of charge by contacting Telia AB, Investor Relations, SE-12386 Farsta, Sweden. Attention: External Communications or Investor Relations (phone: +46 8 7137143, or Sonora, Teollisuuskatu 15, P.O. Box 106, FIN-00051 SONERA, Finland. Attention: Investor Relations (phone: +358 20401). YOU SHOULD READ THE PROSPECTUS AND THE SCHEDULE 14D-9 CAREFULLY BEFORE MAKING A DECISION CONCERNING THE OFFER.
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