Sunrise outsources network operations

 
Sunrise is outsourcing the construction, operation and maintenance of its mobile and fixed network to Alcatel-Lucent as of August 1. However, the network infrastructure, including all telecommunications systems, will remain fully owned by the Group. In addition, internal communications equipment such as telephone exchanges will be sold to the Munich-based industrial holding Aurelius, probably at the beginning of June. This measure is being taken for cost-saving reasons. The savings resulting from the outsourcing of network operations at Sunrise are significant, as CEO Christoph Brand said in an interview with SDA: "It is definitely so significant that we decided to outsource. We wouldn't have done it if we could have saved just one million francs." However, he did not want to name a sum.
The measure affects 520 employees, which is a quarter of the total workforce. However, no redundancies will be announced. According to Sunrise, all employees will receive the same salary and employment conditions for one year as well as a location guarantee. 290 employees will move to Alcatel-Lucent and 230 to Aurelius.
The communications union expressed its "great concern" about the extent of the restructuring. In a statement, it called for negotiations with Alcatel-Lucent and Aurelius in order to secure guarantees regarding continued employment and working conditions in the long term.
Sunrise is following an industry trend by outsourcing the construction, operation and maintenance of its network. Orange also outsourced network expansion and maintenance to Alcatel-Lucent at the beginning of 2008. In Germany, the Group now operates a large part of the E-Plus mobile network. Mobile operators in Italy, the UK and Austria have also outsourced their networks.