OSLO, Norway-Seven groups plan to participate in Norway’s selective tender or “beauty contest” process to award four Universal Mobile Telecommunications System licenses. The licenses will be awarded by the end of October.
Incumbents NetCom ASA and Telenor AS applied to participate in the UMTS license award process, along with Finland’s Sonera in cooperation with Norwegian fixed-line operator Enitel through the Broadband Mobile ASA consortium.
NetCom pledged to provide third-generation coverage to about 75 percent of the country’s population within three years.
France Telecom’s Orange subsidiary will enter the competition through a consortium called Orange Norge, and another consortium of Norwegian companies headed by Orkla ASA also will vie for a license.
U.S.-based Western Wireless International will participate through a consortium called BusinessNet AS, which also includes Tele 1 Europe AS and Rix Telecom. Tele2 Norge AS also is an applicant.
