Swisscom remains under federal control for security reasons

The evaluation of Swisscom's ownership strategy, carried out by Swiss Economics on behalf of the Federal Department of the Environment, Transport, Energy and Communications (DETEC), has just delivered its conclusions. This in-depth analysis confirms that the majority stake of the Confederation in the historic operator remains necessary, essentially for reasons linked to national security.

The study reveals that universal service and the quality of telecommunications networks could be ensured without state participation, thanks to existing legislation and market competition. However, the control of this critical infrastructure by the Confederation makes it possible to act more efficiently and quickly than through regulatory or contractual means alone.

Critical infrastructure for national security

Experts examined several alternatives such as a minority stake or a spin-off of the company, but none proved more relevant than the current status quo. The holding of 51% of the capital by the State indeed offers the best compromise to preserve Switzerland's security interests, particularly in the event of an extraordinary situation.

Swisscom's IT and communications infrastructure plays a strategic role in ensuring the country's capacity for action. The operator's systems ensure the reliable transmission of essential information for authorities and relief organizations, according to a report linked from the press release.

Next steps

Based on these findings, DETEC and the Federal Department of Finance (FDF) will now develop Swisscom's new strategic objectives for the period 2026-2029. This roadmap should notably strengthen the role of the operator in the protection of the country's critical infrastructure.

The assessment is part of the federal government's corporate governance strategy, which regularly examines the relevance of its holdings. In the case of Swisscom, maintaining state control appears to be the most appropriate solution to reconcile commercial performance and national security imperatives.

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