Brussels, 23/08/2000 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has approved the creation of a joint undertaking between a subsidiary of Finnish telecommunications operator Sonera and a subsidiary of the information technology company ICL. The new venture will operate in Finland through the intermediary of the Data-Info franchising chain already in place. It will be specialised in the field of computer and telephone equipment sales and the provision and distribution of information technology and telecommunication services. It will also develop a new service concept, addressed especially to small and medium-sized companies enabling them to outsource all their IT and telecommunication service requirements through the franchising chain. Given the limited nature of the operation and the existence of a large number of competitors, the Commission has decided to authorise the operation.