Nextra announces the creation of new Swiss ASP business
Fornebu
5 minute read
The growing pan-European ISP commences implementation of its ASP business strategy.
Nextra AS, the pan-European communications service provider (CSP) has today founded, as majority shareholder, a new company in Switzerland that will specialize in the application service provider (ASP) business.
Roelof Koopmans, formerly manager of the e-commerce solutions division of Swisscom, will be the managing director of this new company, called Aspectra. The founding of Aspectra marks Nextras first move into the growing European ASP arena. Application service provision, which is considered a key business focus for future expansion, complements Nextras existing network of internet service providers - currently spanning 10 European countries.
Aspectra, in which Nextra will invest up to 30 million Swiss francs over the next two years, will offer e-business applications to medium and large enterprises as well as dedicated hosting services for complex web-sites, portals and e-business applications. This allows customers to outsource the operations of complex application and server infrastructure required for their e-business. For Nextra as full service provider the services provided by Aspectra will complement the existing offerings to medium and large enterprises.
Roelof Koopmans, managing director of Aspectra stated: «For medium and large companies e-business has become a substantial part of their business, and they now recognize that they are better off when operations of such complex websites and e-business applications are outsourced to external companies, specializing in around the clock operations of hardware, software and the network connection to the Internet. They also see the possibility to reduce the cost of ownership.»
Roelof Koopmans, alongside his strong management team, plans to employ 45 people by the end of 2000 at the Zürich based offices. It is expected that Aspectra AG will be fully operational by the end of September 2000. The team is establishing major partnerships with several software and hardware vendors as well as system integrators and other internet/IT companies. The required datacentre capabilities are being built up with the support of key technology providers.
Morten Lundal, chief executive officer of Nextra said: «Aspectra represents a fundamental and exciting new business to add to the Nextra Group portfolio. Nextra considers the ASP business as a substantial market and therefore a key service offering within the Nextra Group. We are currently busy implementing our ASP strategy and are looking to acquire additional companies that fit our strategic requirements.»
The market for ASP based services is predicted to be worth 4 billion dollars worldwide, of which the Western European markets will account for 800 million dollars (source Ovum, January 2000). In Switzerland 20% of all companies have planned to establish their e-business solution and total spending is estimated to be 370 million Swiss francs in 2002.
About Nextra
The Nextra Group - owned by Telenor, the leading Norwegian telecommunications operator - is one of Europe's foremost Internet-based service providers for the international business community. The company is not only a traditional Internet Service Provider (ISP), but also belongs to the next generation of Internet companies - Communications Service Providers (CSPs).
Nextra offers communication, hosting and other net-based services to companies across Europe. The company will shortly offer a broad range of value-added services, including the distribution of voice and data based on an IP platform in these and other countries. Nextbone, Nextras multi-megabit backbone already stretches all over Europe, with numerous interconnection points in Europes busiest cities.
Roelof Koopmans, formerly manager of the e-commerce solutions division of Swisscom, will be the managing director of this new company, called Aspectra. The founding of Aspectra marks Nextras first move into the growing European ASP arena. Application service provision, which is considered a key business focus for future expansion, complements Nextras existing network of internet service providers - currently spanning 10 European countries.
Aspectra, in which Nextra will invest up to 30 million Swiss francs over the next two years, will offer e-business applications to medium and large enterprises as well as dedicated hosting services for complex web-sites, portals and e-business applications. This allows customers to outsource the operations of complex application and server infrastructure required for their e-business. For Nextra as full service provider the services provided by Aspectra will complement the existing offerings to medium and large enterprises.
Roelof Koopmans, managing director of Aspectra stated: «For medium and large companies e-business has become a substantial part of their business, and they now recognize that they are better off when operations of such complex websites and e-business applications are outsourced to external companies, specializing in around the clock operations of hardware, software and the network connection to the Internet. They also see the possibility to reduce the cost of ownership.»
Roelof Koopmans, alongside his strong management team, plans to employ 45 people by the end of 2000 at the Zürich based offices. It is expected that Aspectra AG will be fully operational by the end of September 2000. The team is establishing major partnerships with several software and hardware vendors as well as system integrators and other internet/IT companies. The required datacentre capabilities are being built up with the support of key technology providers.
Morten Lundal, chief executive officer of Nextra said: «Aspectra represents a fundamental and exciting new business to add to the Nextra Group portfolio. Nextra considers the ASP business as a substantial market and therefore a key service offering within the Nextra Group. We are currently busy implementing our ASP strategy and are looking to acquire additional companies that fit our strategic requirements.»
The market for ASP based services is predicted to be worth 4 billion dollars worldwide, of which the Western European markets will account for 800 million dollars (source Ovum, January 2000). In Switzerland 20% of all companies have planned to establish their e-business solution and total spending is estimated to be 370 million Swiss francs in 2002.
About Nextra
The Nextra Group - owned by Telenor, the leading Norwegian telecommunications operator - is one of Europe's foremost Internet-based service providers for the international business community. The company is not only a traditional Internet Service Provider (ISP), but also belongs to the next generation of Internet companies - Communications Service Providers (CSPs).
Nextra offers communication, hosting and other net-based services to companies across Europe. The company will shortly offer a broad range of value-added services, including the distribution of voice and data based on an IP platform in these and other countries. Nextbone, Nextras multi-megabit backbone already stretches all over Europe, with numerous interconnection points in Europes busiest cities.