Another telecom operator moves up the food chain

Dutch operator KPN is the latest telco to make further moves into the services arena now it has confirmed the acquisition of It services provider Getronics has been completed.

A statement issued by KPN read: "KPN is now in control [of Getronics] following successful public offers for the ordinary shares and convertible bonds."
The acquisition fits with the operator's strategy of transforming into an end-to-end IT service provider and comes at a time when other telcos are snapping up IT services businesses.

BT recently acquired the UK-based Lynx Technology while Spanish operator Telefonica has been busy making acquisitions in South America. Analysts believe it is a trend other telecoms companies will follow.

"This is something that is going to continue," explained Keith Humphreys, managing consultant at analysts house EuroLA. "Telco's are moving from their reliance on voice to getting revenues from elsewhere such as services. Voice over IP is makes voice calls [less profitable] and telecoms companies need to make up for this."