TP telecom has decided to cut the number of IT deliverers.
“Nowadays, we have several tenders every year for every module of our system. Deliverers keep changing, the new ones have to learn first and we have to pay for this. We plan to cut their number. We will sign long-term contracts for key elements of the system”, Piotr Muszynski, TP member of the board said.
Today, TP has 100 deliverers. According to “PB” sources, their number may fall to 30 companies. The telecom plans to have 10 businesses (like billing, OMS or EAI). In each of them, there will be one key deliverer, one emergency one and the third one in case none of the two is able to realize the order.
“The new solutions are supposed to improve quality and reduce costs. We hope to generate over 10 percent of savings”, Piotr Muszynski said.
TP capex amounted to PLN 3.7bn (EUR 1bn) last year. Part of this amount are IT costs. France Telecom, TP owner, saved EUR 600m out of EUR 3.1bn of its IT spending in the first year of the new program.
Listed IT companies will probably earn more thanks to the new system.
“TP idea is part of TOP Sourcing program implemented by France Telecom to cut costs. We hope to be one of TP companies although FT is a difficult client who requires high quality and expects low prices”, Janusz Filipiak, ComArch CEO commented.
Small and mid-sized deliverers may be adversely affected. In their opinion, the same may apply to TP itself.
“There are business reasons for the bill but it is not favorable to present deliverers. Besides, its rationale to cut costs to some extent. When the company is tied to several deliverers only, they may found a cartel”, Stefan Kaminski, the CEO of the National Economic Chamber of Electronics and Telecommunication said.
“New requirements will eliminate small companies. Big firms are not able to realize TP needs alone and they will employ small firms anyway. Big companies will be able to negotiate higher margins of profit. In effect, TP costs will grow”, Zbigniew Kadzielski, the director of the Institute of Communication commented.
(PLN 1 = EUR 0.282)