• Sweden edition
Business & Money

Telia Sonera may lose Stockholm as customer

Published: 22 Apr 12 11:45 CET | Print version
Online: http://www.thelocal.se/40406/20120422/

Stockholm municipality is in the process of renewing the city’s telephone contract. The city is currently a Telia Sonera customer.

However, Stockholm municipality has threatened to change providers following the revelation of Telia Sonera’s cooperation with several dictatorships, reported several Swedish media sources.

This move would lose Telia Sonera some 40,000 phone subscriptions.

The Liberal Party's Madeleine Sjöstedt, Stockholm’s deputy mayor of culture and real estate, described the information unveiled about Telia Sonera “upsetting and surprising”.

"I think we should consider introducing a human rights clause in our contracts, since such progress has been made in companies' CSR plans. Many companies have them, but obviously many have work left to do," she said to national radio station SR.

The Green Party, Centre Party and the Christian Democrats also allegedly support investigating the city’s contract with Telia Sonera.

National TV station SVT showed last week that Telia Sonera is making a bundle in dealings with several dictatorships, for instance Azerbajdzjan, Belarus and Uzbekistan.

In order to secure the lucrative contracts, the telephone systems have reportedly been opened for the countries’ security services, leading to tapped phones and arrested dissidents.

Telia Sonera's CEO Lars Nyberg defended the company's actions in an opinion piece in newspaper Dagens Nyheter, in which he wrote that single companies cannot take responsibility for human rights.

"That responsibility lies with politicians and governments," he wrote.

TT/Clara Guibourg (news@thelocal.se)

What do you think? Leave your comment below.

Your comments about this article:

The comments below have not been moderated in advance and are not produced by The Local unless clearly stated. Readers are responsible for the content of their own comments. Comments that breach our terms and conditions will be removed.

14:00 April 22, 2012 by GLO
These are questions for each person to answer.
14:52 April 22, 2012 by riose
I hope they don't use anything made in China.
18:40 April 22, 2012 by Douglas Garner
I'm sorry, but this is ridiculous. As long as any company is in compliance with the laws of its incorporation and within the laws of the lands in which it operates, it should not be subject to this type of political blackmail!
18:56 April 22, 2012 by Happy Expat
So, Sweden wants to sell weapons for human destruction to the dictators in Saudi Arabia but doesn't want TeliaSonera to sell communications to the dictators in Eastern Europe.

As usual, somebody in Sweden has their nose up their own posterior. Perhaps looking for their next promotion.
19:56 April 22, 2012 by Abe L
200% agree with #3, it is not up to local community's to make such considerations. They should purchase these services from whoever can provide it best and cheapest, leaving political considerations out of it.
01:07 April 23, 2012 by byke
Telia was privatised a few years back to ensure there was no monopoly.

Yet they still own all the land lines and through such ownership can charge line rental fees that are disproportionate to their cost.

In turn charging customers a rental fee to be able to access free state services such as 112.
05:58 April 23, 2012 by calebian22
Next they will be calling for a Eurovision boycott in Azerbajdzjan.
ADD YOUR COMMENT   (YOU MUST LOG IN OR REGISTER TO MAKE A COMMENT)
Business & Money headlines
Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna voted best place to live in Sweden

Solna, a suburb just north of Stockholm, is the best place to live in Sweden, according to a new ranking published on Friday by Swedish news magazine Fokus. READ () »

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ikea founder rated fifth richest in the world

Ingrad Kamprad, the founder of Swedish furniture giant Ikea, finished fifth on the Bloomberg Billionaires Index published on Friday, with an estimated fortune of $55.6 billion. READ () »

LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill

LinkedIn profile lands Swede with hefty tax bill

A Swedish man is facing a five-million kronor ($750,000) add-on to his tax bill after the authorities took a proper look at his account on the professional networking site LinkedIn. READ () »

India in no rush to open first Ikea store

India in no rush to open first Ikea store

The first Ikea store to open in India may not be ready for years, with the India head of the Swedish furniture giant prepared to wait until the the perfect location is found for the first of the 25 planned stores. READ () »

H&M CEO to Bangladesh: raise minimum wages

H&M CEO to Bangladesh: raise minimum wages

H&M CEO Karl-Johan Persson has urged Bangladesh to raise its minimum wage, adding the Swedish fashion giant is "willing to pay more" in the wake of a garment industry disaster which killed more than 1,100 people. READ () »

Pensioners to recruit ageing Swedish rockers

Pensioners to recruit ageing Swedish rockers

The Swedish Pensioners Association wants to cast off its "stuffy" image at the Sweden Rock festival, in a recruitment bid to set up a rock music subgroup of new members. READ () »

Sweden plummets in income equality ranking

Sweden plummets in income equality ranking

The living conditions of most Swedes have improved in recent decades, but income inequality is growing rapidly, according to a new OECD report, which saw Sweden drop 14 spots from its first place ranking in 1995. READ () »

Swedish shop hits back: our Converse are real

Swedish shop hits back: our Converse are real

Swedish retailer Coop has refuted complaints by US sneaker brand Converse that Coop stores are selling unauthorized pirated copies of the iconic footwear. READ () »

Sweden housing crunch
Young Swedes forced to live with mum and dad

Young Swedes forced to live with mum and dad

More than half of Swedes in their twenties are stuck living at home with their parents in major metropolitan areas, with observers blaming politicians for abdicating any responsibility for dealing with lack of housing. READ () »

Converse in bid to ban 'fake' shoes in Sweden

Converse in bid to ban 'fake' shoes in Sweden

Legendary US sneaker brand Converse has asked a Swedish court for permission to search outlets of Swedish retail chain Coop in a bid to clear near-perfect pirated copies of the iconic shoes off the shelves. READ () »

More Business & Money

Find a new job in Sweden now
18/05 C++ Developer
Stockholm
18/05 LCI Coordinator
Aker Advantage
Bærum/Tranby
18/05 Lead Product Designer
Stockholm
18/05 Lead Product Designer - Artist Experience
Stockholm
18/05 Lead Product Designer - Mobile
Stockholm
18/05 Senior Alliance Manager -Wireless Telco
Solna
18/05 Senior Technical Architect - Stockholm or Copenhagen or Helsinki
Sverige
18/05 Team Leader ? Customer Service
Klarna AB
Stockholm, STHM
18/05 Tender Lead Subsea 7656
Aker Advantage
Ågotnes
17/05 Account Executive - Sweden- Sofware Sales
Stockholm

ALL JOBS »


 
Latest Business & Money news from Germany
The Local's new Marketplace
Find products and services that are specifically focused on English speakers living in Sweden!
FULL DETAILS
Counseling in English
Individuals & Couples - Stockholm Beth Rogerson PhD - Clinical, Marriage & Family Therapist
Click or call 08-5580 1266 now
Trade binary options
Create an account with Banc De Binary, the world’s most reputable binary options firm, and start cashing in today! You can start by practicing with our free $50,000 demo account.
www.bbinary.com
Therapy in English
Expat counsellor & talk therapist offers counselling for stress, relationship issues, sexuality, culture adjustment & life coaching. Private & confidential. Stockholm or Skype. Contact me today! 08-559 22 636 or
CLICK HERE
Holiday Luxury Villa in Portugal
Casa Birgitta in Algarve, Portugal. Reduced price in best location. Private estate on white sand beach. All amenities included. Book here today! edward_george1@hotmail.com