THE HAGUE, The Netherlands -- ABN AMRO is outsourcing the majority of its worldwide mobile telecommunications to KPN. KPN acts as the principal contractor and will in turn contract other mobile operators worldwide. In Europe, KPN subsidiary Sympac will take care of the supply, management and maintenance of the mobile phones and Blackberry units used by ABN AMRO personnel. The five-year contract covers mobile connections for 22,000 bank personnel in 17 countries, including Australia, the US, Brazil, Hong Kong and the Netherlands. Incorporating all mobile activities (voice and, data) in a single contract will allow the banking group to achieve significant savings.

Sympac, the European mobile service provider KPN established earlier this year, works closely together with the KPN subsidiaries BASE (Belgium), E-Plus (Germany) and KPN Mobile The Netherlands for this new form of service provision. In other countries, Sympac enters into subcontracts with local mobile operators. As Sympac offers mobile communication solutions fully geared to the client’s wishes in a single contract regardless of national boundaries, multinational companies are provided with just one account and a uniform, easily contactable customer service. In addition to this convenience, a Sympac contract offers significant cost-saving opportunities.

Peter Josse, program director for telecommunications and networks at ABN AMRO: "This contract with KPN gives us a single vendor for all our mobile services. This deal will mean improved service for the bank's employees as well as delivering significant savings."

"With Sympac, KPN brings together the best national telecom operators in order to be able to offer multinational clients a total solution for all their mobile telecommunications needs. User convenience at substantially lower cost," in the words of Sympac managing director Brian Stout.

KPN Telecom NV