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FreecoNet to merge with Tlenofon 25.02.2010
On Wednesday 24th of Febuary during last “VoIP Lunch 2010”, which took place in Warsaw, the merger of FreecoNet and Tlenofon was announced - both considered as main competitors on the domestic market of Internet telephony. The merger enables to create the biggest Polish provider of Internet telephony.
As a result of the merger both companies will operate as a single platform, on which all services shall be provided under most likely new, common brand. Currently, both sides are working on integration of two companies, which is planned to end in June.
"Combining two largest players on the market of Internet telephony will start a new era in the process of its consolidation. FreecoNet Tlenofon SA plans within next 2-3 years to make more acquisitions of smaller operators, and finance them with debt or funds from New Connect. O2 Group will focus on the media activities"- says Jacek Swiderski, board member of O2 Group Sp. z o.o. (LTD) and the owner of Tlenofon platform.
"Tlenofon has a strong position on the market of individual users, whereas FreecoNet gathers a lot of attention among business customers. By joining forces, we hope to deepen the effects of scale. In March 2009 we took over fon24.pl VoIP platform with 26 operators. The new business potential after the merger will help us to carry out further acquisitions"- explains Jan Wyrwiński, CEO of FreecoNet SA.
Further development is aid by increasing confidence in the Internet telephony and the value of additional services. As FreecoNet internal data show, the rate of increase in the number of business customers in 2009 – was average 8 percent per month. Business is more willing to switch to VoIP, following the example of companies that have already decided on this step.
Development potential is enormous, which is also confirmed when analyzing data from the global market. According to the last year’s Infonetics report - in 2008 the number of individual VoIP users worldwide reached the level of 106 millions. Until 2013, the expected user growth of this technology is to reach 225 millions. Other source - Dell'Oro Group Research Company - announced an increase in business VoIP customers - in 2011 up to 60 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises will call via VoIP or use this technology in other ways (in 2006 this share was only 20 percent). VoIP has relatively large impact on the entire telecommunications market. Telegeography draws attention to the fact that 24 percent of traditional fixed telephone line holders are using VoIP services in parallel. VoIP also affects such aspects of the overall market as shaping the price lists of traditional operators by forcing them to lower the call rates.
As a result of the merger both companies will operate as a single platform, on which all services shall be provided under most likely new, common brand. Currently, both sides are working on integration of two companies, which is planned to end in June.
"Combining two largest players on the market of Internet telephony will start a new era in the process of its consolidation. FreecoNet Tlenofon SA plans within next 2-3 years to make more acquisitions of smaller operators, and finance them with debt or funds from New Connect. O2 Group will focus on the media activities"- says Jacek Swiderski, board member of O2 Group Sp. z o.o. (LTD) and the owner of Tlenofon platform.
"Tlenofon has a strong position on the market of individual users, whereas FreecoNet gathers a lot of attention among business customers. By joining forces, we hope to deepen the effects of scale. In March 2009 we took over fon24.pl VoIP platform with 26 operators. The new business potential after the merger will help us to carry out further acquisitions"- explains Jan Wyrwiński, CEO of FreecoNet SA.
Further development is aid by increasing confidence in the Internet telephony and the value of additional services. As FreecoNet internal data show, the rate of increase in the number of business customers in 2009 – was average 8 percent per month. Business is more willing to switch to VoIP, following the example of companies that have already decided on this step.
Development potential is enormous, which is also confirmed when analyzing data from the global market. According to the last year’s Infonetics report - in 2008 the number of individual VoIP users worldwide reached the level of 106 millions. Until 2013, the expected user growth of this technology is to reach 225 millions. Other source - Dell'Oro Group Research Company - announced an increase in business VoIP customers - in 2011 up to 60 percent of small and medium-sized enterprises will call via VoIP or use this technology in other ways (in 2006 this share was only 20 percent). VoIP has relatively large impact on the entire telecommunications market. Telegeography draws attention to the fact that 24 percent of traditional fixed telephone line holders are using VoIP services in parallel. VoIP also affects such aspects of the overall market as shaping the price lists of traditional operators by forcing them to lower the call rates.
