STOCKHOLM, Sweden-In its continued defiance of its numerous skeptics, a Hutchison Whampoa subsidiary took on another European third-generation license. The Norwegian government awarded a third-generation license to Hi3G Access Norway AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Hutchison’s Swedish 3G subsidiary Hi3G Access AB.
Hi3G Access Norway will pay $8.2 million for the license, which is one of two licenses that were handed back to the government by their original owners, Tele2 and Enitel. Telenor and Netcom are the country’s other 3G license holders.
Under the license requirements, Hi3G Access Norway must provide at least 30 percent of the Norwegian population with 3G coverage within six years.
“3 brings a strong mobile video communication offering to the Norwegian market,” said Chris Bannister, chief executive officer for 3 in Scandinavia. “We have started providing services in Sweden and will soon in Denmark, which together with the rest of the global 3 network gives us a strong position to offer innovative services at competitive prices in Norway.”
Hutchison said that as of Aug. 21 it had 520,000 3G customers in Australia, Austria, Italy, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Analysts have said it will be difficult for the Hong Kong-based company to meet its year-end 1 million 3G subscriber target. The operator plans to launch 3G services in Hong Kong, Ireland and Israel as well.
