Cisco and TIM, the leading service provider in Italy, announced a major agreement aimed at accelerating Italy’s digitisation at Mobile World Congress.
The two companies are engaged in developing a joint business and innovation program. They will leverage their unique competences and technologies to create next-generation solutions and services focused in particular on cybersecurity, Internet of Things, Industry 4.0, Smart Cities and 5G.
This Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) has been signed in the framework of Digitaliani, the three-year investment plan launched by Cisco in January 2016, whose objectives are well aligned with TIM’s own digitisation program.
The partnership is based on three pillars:
- Sharing competences and solutions for the digital transformation of companies, public sector and services targeted to citizens
- A common effort to develop a partner ecosystem able to leverage the new opportunities coming from next generation 5G mobile networks
- A common commitment to spread innovation everywhere, supported by Cisco’s partnership in TIM #WCAP start-up acceleration program.
Industrial players, public and private sector players and research centre start-ups will be involved in creating and implementing evolutionary projects to accelerate digitisation to improve the lives of citizens. Working on these projects will help the growth of a wide ecosystem of companies, developers and vendors ready to support Italy’s economic development.
“Cisco is deeply committed to helping drive digital acceleration in Italy and we are proud to partner with TIM to foster an ecosystem that will combine Cisco’s unique position in the Internet of Things, Industry 4.0 and Smart Cities with TIM’s leadership in managed digital services to create a new wave of solutions for the Enterprise, Public Sector and Small Business. What Cisco is doing with TIM is setting the standard, in many respects, for the digital transformation partnership model we are building in many countries around the world. This partnership also truly places the network at the centre of Italy’s digital transformation,” said Chuck Robbins, Chairman and CEO, Cisco.
“Digitisation will be the most important factor of TIM transformation, helping us to deliver the best customer experience, integrating service simplicity and a complete offer. We want to improve our customers’ lives but we also want to support Italy’s development and provide a simpler way to access digital services for citizens, companies and public sector organisations. We are happy to share this journey with Cisco who is offering a strong contribution to our efforts,” said Amos Genish, CEO, TIM.
This MOU shows that the two companies share the same vision for the future of Italy, a future where digital transformation is key to drive growth and innovation is meant to better serve the needs of companies, public sector organisations and citizens.
The first visible step of this strategic partnership is the integration of Cisco Umbrella cybersecurity solution in TIM offerings for Italian Small and Medium Businesses, giving them a strong defence tool against cyberattacks.
