Telecom Italia signed a strategic agreement with the Pole SCS (Secured Communicating Solutions) of PACA region, France, a worldwide recognized technology cluster for the development of contactless, mobile-wireless and secured proximity solutions. Through the exchange of technology and case stories, the agreement will produce significant business opportunities for Telecom Italia’s corporate customers, pole SCS actors and pave the way for NFC solution rollouts to its global subscriber base.
Among the companies participating in the cluster are Gemalto, ST Microelectronics, mobile wireless leaders such as Intel, Nvidia and ST Ericsson and a high number of innovative startups. The French Government has been instrumental in making The Pole SCS a successful story within its agenda for innovation and economic development. This environment will provide fertile grounds for the development of new products and services for Telecom Italia, help create an Italian NFC ecosystem and also making Milan the main Italian NFC connected city, ready for the NFC Summit October 2012 and Milan EXPO 2015.
The two parties have established a collaboration framework and are working on various initiatives that involve innovative companies in the cluster areas of Nice, Sophia Antipolis and Rousset, Aix en Provence. Through Systemic implementation, Telecom Italia will accelerate adoption of SIM based NFC solutions leveraging on successful case histories and lesson learned, such as Nice NFC city (Nice is the first example of a European city with a fully NFC-connected deployment).
“This agreement is another important step in our global NFC strategy. We strongly believe that embracing and catalyzing the players of the ecosystem around the capabilities enabled by SIM based NFC, including solution providers, application developer, manufacturers and the operator community, is key to developing this growing market. Through this partnership we will be seeking innovative solutions for both our key corporate clients and our wider consumer base" as stated by Mr. Patuano, COO of Telecom Italia.
“This partnership with a worldwide leader such as Telecom Italia gives a strong leverage for the many innovative companies of the SCS cluster in delivering attractive solutions for the NFC based markets” as stated by Mr. Londeix, President of Pole SCS.
As of November 2011, 45 of the world’s leading mobile operators have committed to supporting and implementing SIM-based NFC solutions and services. This partnership will make it possible to generate synergies and business opportunities and lay the foundations for a long-term business relationship between the French SCS cluster ecosystem and Italy.
Rome, 27 February 2012
