Mobile Norway selects Ericsson as primary vendor for 2G/3G network rollout

Swedish vendor Ericsson has announced that it has been selected by Mobile Norway, the joint venture formed by Tele2 Norge and Network Norway, as the main vendor for the rollout of a new 2G/3G mobile network in Norway. No financial details of the deal have been disclosed, nor have timeframes for the deployment of the new infrastructure, although it has been stated that Mobile Norway aims to roll out a network covering 75% of the population in ‘the coming years’. Commenting on the agreement, Haakon Dymes, CEO of Tele2 Norge, said: ‘Today is a joyful day for Norwegian mobile users. The network will improve the competition within the market and the customer’s choices in both urban and rural areas. We are proud to deliver on our promise to the Norwegian authorities, who have paved the way for increased competition.’ According to TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database, Network Norway and Tele2 Norge announced their partnership in September 2007 and under the terms of the deal Tele2 Norge acquired 50% of the shares in AMI, holder of Norway’s third GSM-900 licence. Subsequently the 50/50 joint venture, Mobile Norway, was formed. Two months after the tie-up was announced, in November 2007 the Norwegian government announced it had received an application from Mobile Norway for the country’s fourth UMTS licence. Following a sealed auction in December that year, Mobile Norway was awarded the licence for around NOK47 million. Under the licence terms the company’s 3G infrastructure must cover at least 40% of the population within six years. Source:telegeography.com/