Delivering communications services since 1855
We have gone from providing telegraphs, switchboards and telephone booths to developing the innovative technologies that empower today’s societies. It’s a long way from where we started in 1855. Here are key events in Telenor’s history of providing services to international customers.
2022
Telenor reshapes its organisation with a focus on four business areas
Telenor presented on its Capital Markets Day 2022 significant changes to ensure growth and reshape the company’s role as an enabler for digitalisation and sustainability. The company will become a leading telecom operator and infrastructure player in the Nordics and take leading positions in security and IoT services. In Asia, Telenor will, together with partners, build scale and take number one positions in several markets.
Telenor is forced to leave Myanmar
Telenor launched commercial operations in Myanmar in 2014 with a purpose: to connect the people of Myanmar with each other – and the world. Built on more than 20 years of Asian experience, Telenor Myanmar became a leader in responsible business and lived its purpose of empowering societies and connecting customers to what matters most to them.
The extraordinary situation after the military took control of Myanmar on 1 February 2021 made it impossible for Telenor to continue operations in the country. Telenor was forced to exit Myanmar to be able to adhere to the company's own values on human rights and responsible business, and because local laws in Myanmar conflicted with Norwegian and European laws. On 25 March 2022, Telenor announced the completion of the sale of Telenor Myanmar.
You can read more about Telenor in Myanmar here.
2021
Telenor and Axiata in advanced discussions to merge Malaysian operations
Axiata, Telenor and Digi have signed transaction agreements for the proposed merger of Celcom and Digi. The signing signifies a confirmation of the intent to establish a commercially stronger and more resilient digital converged service provider and leading Malaysian telecom operator positioned to drive Malaysia’s digital ambitions. Axiata and Telenor will be equal partners with 33.1 percent ownership stake each.
Completion of the transaction will be subject to the approval of both Axiata and Digi shareholders, regulatory approvals and other customary terms and conditions. Barring unforseen circumstances, the Proposed Merger is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2022.
Telenor gathers strength in IoT for the 5G era
Telenor Group unifies its IoT offering across the Nordics and internationally. The Nordic IoT portfolio and the global Telenor Connexion portfolio are gathered under the brand Telenor IoT. Telenor IoT is to be offered from all Telenor business channels in the Nordics, internationally by Telenor Connexion and through selected partners.
2020
Telenor Group divests stake in Malaysian mobile financial services business, Valyou
Telenor Group sells its stake in Valyou, a wholly owned mobile financial services provider in Malaysia, to Merchantrade Asia, a fast-growing Malaysian FinTech.
Telenor Group divests shares in Wave Money
Telenor Group divests its shares in Digital Money Myanmar Limited (Wave Money) to Yoma Strategic Holdings Ltd.
Fornebu to remain Telenor headquarter for 25 years with new property owners
Telenor sells the headquarter office building at Fornebu, Norway to NPRO Holding AS, a wholly owned subsidiary of Norwegian Property ASA. The building will continue to operate as Telenor’s headquarter for the next 25 years.
Viasat Consumer and Canal Digital merger completed
The two TV distributors merge, and the new company is named Allente. Allente offers TV distribution via satellite, streaming services as well as IPTV solutions, and fibre broadband via open networks to 1.2 million customers in Norway, Sweden, Denmark and Finland.
2019
Telenor Group and NENT Group merged Canal Digital and Viasat Consumer
Telenor Group and Nordic Entertainment Group (NENT Group) announced the formation of a new company that combines Canal Digital and Viasat Consumer (satellite pay-TV & broadband-TV operations).
Telenor Group merged online classifieds assets with Carousell
Telenor Group announced a merger between its online classifieds business, 701Search, and Carousell, one of Asia’s largest and fastest-growing classifieds marketplaces, in an equity and cash agreement.
Telenor Group entered Finland
Telenor Group acquired the Finnish telecom operator DNA.
Axiata and Telenor agreed to end discussions
Axiata Group Berhad and Telenor Group have mutually agreed to end discussions regarding a non-cash combination of their telecom and infrastructure assets in Asia.
Nordic CEOs meet with region’s Prime Ministers to accelerate sustainability action on climate and diversity
The Nordic CEOs for a Sustainable Future, an alliance of the leaders of the Nordic region’s leading businesses including Telenor, meet with the prime ministers of the five Nordic countries to discuss a collaborative approach to addressing sustainability challenges.
Telenor Group completed sale of Telenor Banka to PPF Group
Telenor Group announced the completion of the sale of Telenor Banka in Serbia to PPF Group, following regulatory approvals.
2018
Telenor Group recognised by Fortune’s annual Change the World list
Telenor Group is recognised for its work to bring affordable healthcare to the mass market through its mobile health service, Tonic, in Bangladesh.
Nordic CEOs join forces for a sustainable future
A group of Nordic-based CEOs, including the CEO of Telenor Group Sigve Brekke, announce a joint initiative to speed up the realisation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Telenor Group to coordinate pan-European 5G project
The EU has given Telenor Group coordination responsibility for its new European project to accelerate the uptake of 5G across Europe. The initiative, 5G Verticals INNovation Infrastructure (5G-VINNI), is comprised of 23 partners, including major operators, academia and industry vendors.
Telenor sells assets in Central and Eastern Europe
Telenor sells its assets in Central and Eastern Europe to PPF Group for EUR 2.8 billion (approximately NOK 27 billion) on an enterprise value basis.
Telenor CEO: Spend 40 hours annually on upskilling
Telenor Group CEO Sigve Brekke challenges more than 30 000 employees in 12 countries to carry out 40 hours of training and education in 2018 to transform the workforce for a digital future.
2017
Telenor completes its sell-down in VEON
Bharti Airtel takes ownership of Telenor’s operations in India
Telenor ASA enters into an agreement with Bharti Airtel Limited to take full ownership of Telenor India.
2016
Telenor acquired marketing technology firm Tapad
Telenor Group entered into an agreement to acquire approximately 95 percent of Tapad Inc., a leading marketing technology firm. The acquisition enables Telenor to take a position within the rapidly growing market for advertising technology and secures important competence within digital marketing and analytics.
2015
Gunn Wærsted elected as new Chair of the Board of Telenor ASA
The Corporate Assembly of Telenor ASA elects Gunn Wærsted (60) as Chair of the Board of Directors.
Telenor adopts global six-month paid maternity leave policy
In line with a corporate vision of encouraging diversity and developing more female leadership in business and society, Telenor Group adopts a six-month paid maternity leave policy as a minimum standard globally across its 13 markets.
Uninor becomes Telenor India
Uninor, Telenor Group’s subsidiary in India with 40 million customers, changes its name to Telenor India.
Sigve Brekke new Group President and CEO
Sigve Brekke is appointed President and CEO of Telenor Group. He leads the digital transformation of Telenor Group, focusing on operational efficiency, modernisation and positioning the company as a digital telco. His experience includes roles in Telenor as Executive Vice President and Head of Asia and CEO of Thailand’s mobile operator dtac.
Launch of THOR 7 satellite
THOR 7 satellite successfully launched, delivering satellite communications services for all the markets in which we operate.
2014
Telenor sells Conax
Telenor Broadcast sells Conax to Kudelski Group for NOK 1.5 billion. Conax serves approximately 380 clients worldwide representing 140 million pay-tv consumers in over 85 countries.
Telenor establishes operations in Myanmar
Telenor signs an agreement with the Union Government of Myanmar for a nationwide telecommunications licence.
Telenor Banka becomes first online bank in Serbia
Telenor Banka provides customers with innovative mobile banking services, a milestone in Telenor’s development of online financial services and mobile banking in Europe.
Telenor becomes sole owner in Uninor in India
Telenor completes 100 per cent ownership of Telewings in India.
2013
Agreement with UNI Global Union
Telenor entered into collaboration with UNI Global Union, the voice of 20 million service sector workers around the world, to establish a platform and framework for dialogue on fundamental labour rights.
Joint venture with MicroEnsure
MicroEnsure is a leading provider of insurance products to more than four million people in Africa and Asia
Telenor entered Bulgaria
Telenor acquired the second largest mobile operator in Bulgaria, GLOBUL.
Telenor joins JVs for online classifieds
Telenor, Schibsted Media Group and Singapore Press Holdings team up to create two joint ventures (JVs) in online classifieds in Asia and South America.
Group CEO Fredrik Baksaas elected Chairman of GSMA
GSMA represents nearly 800 of the world’s mobile operators in addition to 250 companies in the broader mobile ecosystem.
Telenor Common Operation is established
Telenor Common Operation offers managed network and IT services to Telenor Business Units
2012
Telenor recognised by UNICEF and the World Bank
Telenor is recognised by UNICEF and the World Bank for health, finance and agriculture services.
Telenor and Telefonica establish a global financial services platform
2011
Telenor Group passes a milestone: 100 million subscribers in Asia
Telenor introduces internet services company ComoYo
The internet services company ComoYo is introduced to develop and aggregate third-party services.
Telenor Connexion telematics service for Nissan LEAF wins GSMA Award 2011
The Nissan LEAF CARWINGS telematics system, of which Telenor Connexion is part, wins the GSMA award for “Best Mobile Innovation for Automotive and Transport”.
2010
Pannon and Promonte are rebranded to Telenor Hungary and Telenor Montenegro
Easypaisa wins Mobile Money Transfer award
Telenor Pakistan’s Easypaisa walks away with “entrant of the year award” during the world’s first ever Mobile Money Transfer Awards in Dubai.
Local renewable energy supply in use in Telenor Group
Local renewable energy supply is used in Montenegro, Serbia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Thailand and Hungary.
VimpelCom Ltd established and headquartered in Amsterdam
Grameenphone (Bangladesh) opens new, eco-friendly headquarters
The Grameenphone headquarters become the first truly environmentally friendly building in Bangladesh, reducing energy consumption by 30 per cent in its first year.
2009
Danish operations renamed Telenor Denmark
Danish mobile operator Sonofon and broadband provider Cybercity change their names to Telenor.
THOR 6 satellite is launched
Telenor and Altimo form new joint mobile operator in Russia
Telenor and Altimo form a new joint mobile operator targeting emerging markets.
Uninor mobile services in India are launched
2008
Telenor entered India
Telenor takes control of a 60 per cent stake in Unitech Wireless (India)
Telenor Connexion is established
Telenor Connexion, working with SIM card services (Internet of Things), is established in Stockholm, Sweden
The new Telenor satellite, THOR 5, is successfully launched
Telenor named top performer by Sustainability Yearbook
The Telenor Group is ranked the best Mobile Telecom company in the world by the Sustainability Yearbook 2008.
Telenor leaves Austria
2006
Telenor enters Serbia
Telenor wins the bid for the second largest mobile operator in Serbia
Telenor Group reaches 100 million subscriptions
Telenor enters Sweden
Telenor acquires Vodafone Group’s Swedish mobile operation
Telenor Satellite Services are sold to Apax Partners (France)
Telenor Group launches a new logo and visual design
2004
Telenor entered Pakistan
Telenor entered into an agreement to roll out mobile communications infrastructure in Pakistan
Telenor leaves Greece
The remaining shares in Cosmote (Greece) are sold
2003
Telenor acquires 100 per cent ownership of Sonofon, Denmark
2002
Telenor increases its investment in VimpelCom, Russia
Jon Fredrik Baksaas succeeds Tormod Hermansen as Group CEO
Jon Fredrik Baksaas was President and CEO from 2002 to 2015. During this period, Telenor grew to become a leading global telecommunication service provider with 200 million customers and operations in 13 markets across the Nordics, Central and Eastern Europe and Asia. Baksaas also served as Director of the Board of VimpelCom and was Chairman of GSM Association from 2013 through 2016.
2001
Becomes majority owner in Malaysia’s Digi
Telenor increases its share in Malaysia’s Digi to 61 per cent.
Sole owner of Hungary’s Pannon
World’s largest operator of mobile satellite services
Telenor acquires Comsat Mobile Communications and becomes the world’s largest operator of mobile satellite services
Telenor leaves Germany and Ireland
Ownership shares in Germany and Ireland are sold.
2000
Telenor enters Thailand and Denmark
Telenor AS is partly privatised
Norwegian state ownership decreases to 62.4 per cent. Results in company listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange and on NASDAQ (latter delisted) .
1999
Telenor becomes a minority owner in VimpelCom, Russia
Operations in Malaysia expanded
Telenor acquires a 33 per cent holding in Digi, Malaysia
1998
Telenor and partners open mobile networks in Greece and Austria
Thor 3 satellite launched
Telenor ownership in Russian VimpelCom (1998–2017)
In 1998 Telenor signed an agreement to acquire a minority stake in VimpelCom. The ownership would be characterised by a years-long struggle with the Russian partner Alfa Group over control of the enterprise and its assets.
In 2014, the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the U.S. Department of Justice and Dutch authorities opened investigations related to VimpelCom’s operations in Uzbekistan. The investigations were concluded in 2016 when VimpelCom agreed to pay USD 795 million in a global settlement.
Telenor Group divested its stake in VimpelCom in 2017 to focus on creating value in core operations.
1997
THOR 2 satellite is successfully launched
Telenor opens mobile networks in Ireland
Telenor enters into a consortium to build mobile networks in Ukraine and Germany
International standard for satellite broadcasting
Cooperates with Canal Plus (Europe’s largest broadcasting company) in developing a digital standard for satellite broadcasting
Telenor enters Greece
Telenor, together with partners, is awarded licences to develop mobile networks in Greece
Grameenphone opens mobile network in Dhaka
Grameenphone opens the mobile network in the capital of Bangladesh, Dhaka
1996
Telenor enters Montenegro and Bangladesh
Telenor enters Austria
Telenor becomes market leader in Nordic satellite-based broadcasting
1995
Telenor enters Ireland
Opens operation in St Petersburg, Russia
Northwest GSM, in which Telenor has a 13 per cent ownership share, officially opens in St Petersburg, Russia
1992
North-West GSM joint venture
Telenor establishes its first presence in Russia, extending its digital fixed line from Norway to Murmansk, offering international phone connection to the region. In the following year, Telenor formed a joint venture with Telia, Telecom Finland and local partners called North-West GSM and was awarded a GSM licence that covered St Petersburg and the Murmansk-Archangelsk region. Telenor would go on to sell its stake in North-West GSM in 2001.
1991
Tormod Hermansen becomes Managing Director
Tormod Hermansen was Managing Director of the Norwegian Telecom from 1991 to 1995 and President and CEO of Telenor from 1995 to 2002. Under his leadership, the company transformed from a state corporation to a public listed company. As a response to deregulation of the Norwegian mobile market, Telenor increased its strategic focus on mobile services and started exploring international mobile opportunities.
1990
Telenor enters global partnerships to create mobile and satellite services
Telenor and partners create technical solutions such as satellite services, the NMT 450 (Nordic Mobile Telephone) and GSM mobile systems