Portugal's leading pay TV and internet provider has selected Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) as consulting, systems integration and managed services partner to operate and maintain its data centers. Under the two year contract, Ericsson is responsible to optimize the operational performance of ZON's information systems and information technologies (IS/IT).

Under the agreement, Ericsson assumes responsibility for the daily operation and maintenance of ZON's data centers, including hardware, software, operating systems, databases, backups and storage. Additionally, Ericsson will act as a consultant and systems integration partner, contributing to the optimization of IT processes specifically, through the conception and definition of a services catalogue and use of industry standards such as Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL).

With more than 1.6 million customers and a countrywide optical fiber network, ZON is the main operator of subscription based TV and new generation broadband services in Portugal. By assigning responsibility for its IS/IT management to Ericsson, ZON gains efficiency and flexibility in its operations and can increasingly focus on providing enhanced quality for its customers and faster launch new services.

Luís Lopes, Chief Operating Officer, ZON Multimedia, says: "We have chosen Ericsson due to its global experience and local competence in managing complex projects. Ericsson has proven to have the required capability to deliver IT services and I am confident that this deal will allow us to become more efficient in our operations and more competitive in the market. By partnering with Ericsson we are able to better focus on further developing our offering for ZON customers."

Valter D’Amico, Vice President and head of Managed Services, Ericsson, says: "Operators are facing an increasingly complex IT landscape and need to find ways to simplify their IT operations. By our managed services and consulting and systems integration capabilities we have reinforced our IT capabilities, taking a new leading role in the modernization and optimization of IT infrastructures, with the same commitment and professionalism that we have demonstrated in telecom projects. This contract is a further proofpoint of Ericsson as a trusted partner for the complete ICT environment."

This announcement builds on Ericsson's strong momentum in the areas of managed services, consulting and systems integration and the increased demand for end to end network and IT capabilities. Ericsson now manages IT platforms on behalf of operators that serve about 400 million subscribers worldwide.