AU-System signs general agreement with the Scania Association of Local Authorities

AU-System signs general agreement with the Scania Association of Local Authorities Stockholm, Sweden - October 17, 2001 - AU-System has signed a general agreement with the Scania Association of Local Authorities (Kommunförbundet Skåne) regarding consulting services for local government IT infrastructure programmes. The agreement, which is the result of coordinated purchasing by the Scania Association on behalf of 25 local authorities in Scania, southern Sweden, runs to the end of 2003. AU-System is one of seven companies that have signed general agreements and is therefore able to deal directly with the local authorities in question. Altogether about 30 companies were involved in the procurement process. "Our selection criteria during the procurement process have primarily concentrated on the various companies' experience and expertise, as well as good references from projects undertaken on behalf of local authorities in Sweden," says Stig Ålund at the Scania Association of Local Authorities. An IT infrastructure programme has the purpose of investigating a local authority area's need for broadband, as well as outlining the authority's broadband strategy. The programme is being used as a basis for obtaining state funding for the authority's broadband infrastructure. The foundation for this model is the Swedish government's IT bill, which has been drawn up by the ministry of industry, employment and communications (Näringsdepartementet) with the ambition to achieve a fair distribution of broadband access throughout the whole of Sweden. "Broadband IT infrastructure makes local authorities attractive to both companies and people. Local authorities also lie behind much of the continued development and use of IT services in Sweden. At AU-System we have both the experience and proven methodology to help local authorities find the right solutions for their infrastructure expansion," says Peter Lund, Business Unit Manager at AU-System. AU-System is already involved in IT infrastructure programmes for the following Swedish local authorities: Falköping, Tidaholm, Skövde, Tibro, Hjo, Karlsborg, Töreboda, Mariestad and Gullspång. The Scania Association of Local Authorities is a service and interest organisation for the 33 local authorities that exist in the southern Swedish province of Scania (Skåne). The Scania Association safeguards the interests of the local authorities and supports them in their activities. Media Contacts: Peter Lund, Business Unit Manager AU-System AB Tel: +46 70 683 73 01 About AU-System AU-System is a leading Mobile Internet consultancy. Through the subsidiary SandbergTrygg, the company also offers integrated services for marketing communications. Major clients include Ericsson, Telia, Volvo, Nordea Nordbanken and Motorola. AU-System was established in 1974 and currently employs more than 1,000 staff in offices in Sweden, the U.K., Italy, the U.S., Thailand and Singapore. AU-System is listed on Attract40 of Stockholmsbörsen, under the symbol AUS. For more information, please visit www.ausystem.com. ------------------------------------------------------------ This information was brought to you by Waymaker http://www.waymaker.net The following files are available for download: http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/17/20011017BIT00210/bit0001.doc http://www.waymaker.net/bitonline/2001/10/17/20011017BIT00210/bit0001.pdf