SWITCH is focussing on its core business with Swiss universities and ensures the security of the Internet in Switzerland. The foundation is selling its fully-owned subsidiary switchplus. switchplus is a leading Swiss provider in the areas of internet presence and domain names.
Proceeds to benefit the foundation
All proceeds of the sale will be invested to benefit universities in line with foundation’s objectives. This includes the development of innovative IT services in the areas of networks, IT security, identity management and cloud computing, as well as the security of the Swiss internet.
Andreas Dudler, Managing Director of SWITCH, is pleased about the successful sale. ‘We are happy that we were able to sell switchplus to the Belgian Combell Group. I am also glad that Combell Group will retain all employees and that switchplus will remain active in the market as an autonomous company. I am convinced that the expert knowledge and size of Combell Group will provide switchplus with the ideal conditions for further growth.’
Background to the sale
Since the early stages of the Swiss internet, SWITCH has performed a dual role. The foundation acted both as a registry operator for ‘.ch’ and a registrar for the direct sale of .ch domain names to end customers. For any transfer of this direct customer business to the registrars, SWITCH considered it of strategic importance that it preserve the values it had developed as a registrar for the benefit of the foundation. These values included SWITCH’s expert knowledge, as well as its loyal customers. Consequently, establishing switchplus nine years ago was a deliberate strategic decision. With the separation carried out in 2016, SWITCH was able to transfer some of the values it had developed as a registrar to switchplus.
Synergies with adjacent activities
SWITCH has always offered services alongside its core business with Swiss universities. The foundation operates the registry for .ch domain names and guarantees their security with its centre of excellence for security. Swiss banks and other sectors benefit from this expertise.
About SWITCH
SWITCH stands for greater capability, convenience and security in the digital world. In collaboration with its stakeholders in and outside the academic world, the foundation develops and improves integrated ICT solutions in the areas network, security, identity management and cloud computing. SWITCH has been the registry for .ch and .li domain names since the early days of the internet. The foundation employs around 100 members of staff at its Zurich headquarters.
About Combell Group
Combell Group started in 1999 and is the leading digital enabler for entrepreneurs and small businesses in Northwestern Europe. The group serves, now together with switchplus, nearly 800.000 customers in Belgium, The Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Switzerland and has one of the highest customer satisfaction ratings in the industry. Innovation, trust and reliability is part of its DNA.
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