Telephony 

An old telephone

In 1876, Alexander Graham Bell invented and patented the telephone. His telephones were wired directly to each other and could only be used with connected phones. From circa 1880, telephone exchanges allowed connecting to other telephones.

Telephone technology came to Europe in 1877, when the first public demonstration of the Bell telephone took place in a limited number of countries, including Great Britain, Germany, France, Sweden and Norway. The first Norwegian telephones were sold in the capital, Christiania (Oslo), in 1878.

A large number of private telephone companies were established during the following years, and in the 1890s, Norway had one of the highest densities of telephones in relation to population.

In 1906, one of the first radio wave connections between islands was established in the Lofoten area in northern Norway. The fishermen could then connect with their sales organisations on the mainland after they sailed in to the island’s harbour, enabling the salespeople to start the sales process while the fish was en route to the mainland.

The extensive Norwegian fishing industry was a driver for the telephone companies in their rapid development of telephone coverage and services.

Telegrafverket (now: Telenor) acquired the last private telephone company in 1973, but never took the step to establish fixed line operations abroad.

1988

End of monopoly of sale of telephone sets in Norway

1985

The last manual telephone exchange is shut down in Balsfjord, Norway

1974

Takes over the last private telephone company in Norway

Andebu Telephone Association is taken over by Norwegian Telecom (Televerket)

1966

First manual mobile telephone is launched in Norway

1965

Satellite telephone connection between Norway and USA opens

1932

“Miss Clock” introduced in Norway

The ‘speaking’ clock, known to all as “Miss Clock”, is introduced as a new and popular telephone service

1932

First red telephone booths appear in Norway

1928

Telephone connection opens between Norway and USA

1920

Opens the first automatic telephone exchange in Northern Europe

The Norwegian city of Skien opens an automatic telephone exchange

1901

Norwegian state obtains exclusive rights to run telephone services

The Telegraph Act is passed, giving the Norwegian state exclusive rights to run telephone services in Norway

1893

First international telephone line introduced

The first international Norwegian telephone line connects Christiania (Oslo), Norway with Stockholm, Sweden

1880

Norway’s first official telephone exchange opens

1878

First telephone cables between Norwegian cities

The Norwegian cities of Arendal and Tvedestrand are connected via telephone cables

1877

First public demonstration of the Bell telephone in Norway

One year after Bell introduced the phone for the first time