Telephony
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