Telenor to introduce Broadband Patrol

"The demand for broadband has skyrocketed. The total market in Norway currently stands at approximately 650,000 broadband customers, and in the last quarter close to 400,000 of these were customers of Telenor. The technological development ensures that more people are choosing such products as broadband and broadband telephony, and we are also seeing that services are becoming more complex. It is therefore important that suppliers are keeping installation as simple as possible. We are seeing that a number of our customers are struggling to connect to the Internet on their own, and we want to provide assistance to these customers. The Broadband Patrol shall ensure full Internet connection at a reasonable price," said Knut Haakon Nilsen, head of Internet at Telenor.

Broadband Patrol, which will be working under the parole "when we leave, you'll be surfing", is a result of negotiations between Telenor and contractors Telavie AS, ELTEL Networks AS and Sønnico Installasjon AS. During the summer months of June, July and August, and at a fee of NOK 150, customers can be visited by an installer who will connect all ADSL equipment (modem etc.), i.e. ensuring that the PC is properly connected to the modem, installing the start-up CD and making sure that customers are fully connected to the Internet (including e-mail and web browser). Last but not least, the included security package, the Norton Internet Security complete with virus filter, firewall and spam filter will also be installed. The ADSL solution itself, which will be available at NOK 150 during the summer months, (recommended retail price NOK 798) will be charged separately.

A condition for receiving a visit from the Broadband Patrol is that you have a PC of a recent date, with the operative system Windows 98SE, or a more recent version, that the PC is not virus-infected, and that ordering and supply of "Broadband Patrol. When we leave, you'll be surfing!" coincides with the ordering and supply of the ADSL solution. In addition, the installers from Broadband Patrol will also provide additional assistance, such as broadband connection in homes with alarm systems, extra sockets, set-up of wireless routers and virus removal. An additional fee will be charged for such work, depending on the extent of the assistance customers require. Customers will be contacted the day before connection takes place to enter into a final agreement about what needs to be done, and to establish whether additional assistance is required.

"We are very pleased to have entered into this agreement with our contractors, and we will strongly recommend other Internet suppliers to look at similar solutions. We are all interested in providing our customers with problem-free Internet connections," ended Knut Haakon Nilsen.

After the conclusion of the summer campaign, the Broadband Patrol will charge NOK 599 for their services. This service was previously offered at NOK 998.

For more information, please contact:
Telenor: Head of Information Atle Lessum, Tel. +47 415 05 645, atle.lessum@telenor.com