What's Happening?
Telia Norway and ice have agreed to combine their mobile radio access networks (RANs) in Norway through a jointly owned company, with operations expected to begin in the second quarter of 2026. This collaboration involves Telia Norway and Lyse, the owner of ice, creating a 50/50-owned entity to manage their Norwegian mobile RAN assets. The combined RAN is expected to enhance mobile coverage across Norway, particularly in rural areas, by 2027. Despite sharing infrastructure, both companies will maintain independent core networks and continue to compete as separate operators. Telia anticipates significant cost and capital expenditure synergies from this shared infrastructure.
Why It's Important?
The collaboration between Telia and ice represents a strategic move to
improve network coverage and efficiency in Norway. By sharing RAN infrastructure, both companies can reduce operational costs and enhance service quality, particularly in underserved rural areas. This partnership could set a precedent for similar collaborations in other regions, promoting more efficient use of resources in the telecommunications industry. The expected financial benefits from cost savings and improved coverage could strengthen the competitive positions of both operators in the Norwegian market.
What's Next?
Telia plans to provide further details on the financial impact of the network combination in the first half of 2026. As the combined RAN becomes operational, both companies will likely focus on optimizing network performance and customer experience. The success of this collaboration could influence future partnerships and infrastructure sharing agreements in the telecommunications sector, potentially leading to broader industry changes in how networks are managed and operated.
