Telenor reports record high mobile phone subscriptions in Norway

Press release
Fornebu
2 minute read
The number of Norwegian mobile phone users increases as never before. During the first six months of this year, Telenor Mobil has sold no less than 167 118 new GSM subscriptions, an increase of 33 per cent compared to the same period last year. Telenor now records a total of 1.4 million mobile phone subscriptions
When also the second operators subscriptions are counted in, Norway now has a mobile penetration of close to 40 per cent, surpassed only by Finland on a worldwide basis.

"If sales continue to increase like the first six months, 1998 will be another record year for Telenor Mobil, far better than expected," says managing director Stig M. Herbern.

Over half of the new subscriptions are of the type "RingKontant", a prepaid subscription, which was launched last autumn. "Prepaid calling time offer subscribers better control over their phone expenses and has proved very popular," says Mr. Herbern.

Traffic has also increased considerably this summer. Along the southern coastline, Telenor Mobil has recorded up to 100 per cent increase in mobile phone traffic, and has had to strengthen the coverage and capacity to cope with the increase, caused by the large flux of holidaymakers.

Subscriptions
1997-12-31
1998-06-30
change

GSM*
871 535
1 038 656
+ 167 118

NMT 900
223 100
199 400
- 23 700

NMT 450
164 651
153 051
- 11 601

Total
1 259 286
1 391 107
+ 131 817

* Whereof prepaid:
67 998
158 084
+ 90 086