Highlights 2005
January
Swisscom IT Services wins an outsourcing order from Swiss International Air Lines for parts of the company's IT infrastructure. The order includes installation, operation and maintenance of all computer workstations in Switzerland and abroad.
February
Swisscom Mobile receives the GSMA Award 2005 for "Mobile Unlimited" for the best mobile business application. "Mobile Unlimited" allows seamless handover between heterogeneous mobile networks by automatically selecting the network with the highest available bandwidth.
March
Swisscom Eurospot, a fully owned subsidiary of Swisscom AG, shows rapid growth, with a WLAN network spanning over 2,000 sites in 12 European countries. The network provides business users with wireless broadband to the Internet and their company intranet.
April
On April 1 Swisscom combines Swisscom Broadcast AG, Swisscom Immobilien AG and Billag AG to form a new strategic business unit, "Related Businesses", with a view to exploiting growth potential in areas related to the Swisscom Group's core business.
May
Swisscom Mobile customers hit the four million mark thanks to the excellent quality of its network, a portfolio of user-driven products and services, and attractive pricing models. At the same time the Swiss market leader reduces termination charges, cutting the cost of calls to all networks.
June
Swisscom sets up so-called Help Points at fixed locations and in specially equipped buses in 41 regional centers across Switzerland, where interested members of the public can obtain advice on using mobile phones and the Internet.
July
Swisscom founds Accarda AG as the legal successor of Billag Card Services AG, whose core business is issuing and processing customer credit cards.
August
Hundreds of employees work round the clock to restore operations to Swisscom networks hit by severe weather conditions across large parts of Switzerland.
Investment in broadband infrastructure pays off as ADSL becomes available in practically all corners of Switzerland. At the end of August Swisscom activates its millionth ADSL access line. At the same time Bluewin launches an introductory offering for occasional ADSL users, where the customer only pays for the time spent online.
September
Swisscom IT Services announces the purchase of Comit AG, an up-and-coming IT company, with a view to consolidating its expertise in IT service provision to the Swiss financial sector.
Swisscom Solutions enters into a partnership with UK-based Vanco, extending the range of service offerings available to its multinational customers. Vanco's core business focuses on planning, rollout and operation of global virtual corporate networks.
The Collège de la Cité in Chavornay (VD) becomes the 4,000th school in Switzerland to receive free access to the World Wide Web with guaranteed bandwidth. Thanks to "Internet for Schools", an initiative led by Swisscom and the Swiss Conference of Cantonal Directors of Education, 80 percent of Switzerland's schools are now connected to the Internet.
October
Swisscom Broadcast acquires a majority stake in the Hungarian company, Antenna Hungária, with a view to capitalizing on growth opportunities abroad. The takeover marks Swisscom Broadcast's entry into the international broadcasting business. The company plans to introduce digital television (DVB-T) in Hungary over the next few years.
November
Television comes to the mobile phone: Swisscom Mobile and Swisscom Broadcast launch a joint pilot trial in the field of mobile television broadcasting based on the digital standard DVB-H.
December
Swisscom Fixnet starts upgrading its network from ADSL to VDSL. The new broadband network sets the stage for future applications such as TV over the Internet.
Swisscom Solutions becomes the first company in Switzerland to receive accreditation as a service provider for certified electronic signatures. Swisscom therefore meets the highest criteria for legally binding electronic identification, authentication and authorization.
