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Ready for 3G: Norwegian UMTS licence awarded to Telenor

On Wednesday 29 November, Telenor was awarded a 3G licence to build the next generation of mobile network. The company will now start the process of building its third generation mobile network so that during the next five years, all areas in Norway with a population of more than 200 will have access to new mobile services.

Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) will upgrade the access to Internet services offered through mobile terminals. Live video and sound will be some of the new features provided through 3G.

Ingvild Myhre, Managing Director of Telenor Mobile Communications, commented: “We have been waiting for this, and now we are looking forward to building the mobile network of the future. Our goal is to supply user-friendly services to the population. We are therefore preparing an aggressive, but realistic expansion plan.”

Telenor Mobile Communications has chosen an open content strategy for the mobile Internet, and will continuously be developing new products and services made available through UMTS.

A commercial launch of the network is planned to take place before the end of 2001.

Further information:
Jo Heldaas, Telenor Mobile Communications, ph. +47 22 78 51 00 / mob. +47 905 71 700


Notes to Editors
Telenor is the leading telecommunications company in Norway, which is among the most advanced telecommunications markets in the world. Norway has among the highest penetration of mobile phone, ISDN, personal computer and Internet usage worldwide. Telenor also has substantial international operations, particularly in mobile communications, Internet and Internet Protocol-based communication services, satellite services and pay television services. In 1999, Telenor had consolidated revenues of NOK 33.5 billion, EBITDA of NOK 9.0 billion and net profit of NOK 2.0 billion.

EBITDA for the first nine months of 2000 was NOK 7.5 billion, representing an increase of almost 15% over the same period in 1999. The growth in turnover was almost 12% compared to the first nine months of 1999.