Telenor launches 4th generation mobile network in Norway

Telenor has launched its fourth-generation mobile network (4G) in 11 cities and towns in Norway and has proposed a faster spread of the network across the country so that more than one in three Norwegians will have 4G coverage from Telenor by the end of the year.

With speeds up to 10 times faster than today, the 4G network will provide a much better user experience, Telenor said in release.

"The current rapid development of digital services places increased requirements on the mobile network, and with 4G we are taking an important step towards increased capacity and faster speeds. With 4G from Telenor everything is in place for efficient streaming or downloading of films and music, image sharing and video conferencing whenever and wherever," said Berit Svendsen, CEO of Telenor Norway.

Under the current phase, Telenor's 4G network will cover Oslo, Bergen, Trondheim, Stavanger, Lørenskog, Sandnes, Lillestrøm, Asker, Bærum, Lofthus in Hardanger and Longyearbyen. By the end of the year Fredrikstad, Sarpsborg, Skien, Porsgrunn, Drammen and Kristiansand will have 4G coverage from Telenor. After this an ambitious extension programme will continue until the whole of Norway is covered. Tromsø will be covered in the first quarter of 2013, the release said.

"This marks the start of a new mobile fairy tale which all Norwegians will become part of. This year more than one in three Norwegians will have 4G-coverage from Telenor, but already in 2015 as many as nine in 10 will have 4G from Telenor," Svendsen said.

Only PC and tablet users will be able to receive Telenor-4G when it is launched, while mobile users will have it in good time for Christmas. "The timing is brilliant because 4G mobile phones are now being stocked by retailers," Svendsen said.