OSLO, Norway-Mobile operator Orange confirmed Thursday it would back out of the Swedish mobile market, a move that had been widely predicted due to the financial problems of owner France Telecom. The company cited increasing pressure from Sweden’s communications regulatory agency, the PTS, amid problems meeting the terms of its third-generation license.
The move will mean the loss of 234 jobs in Sweden.
Orange had persistently denied it would end its presence in Sweden, despite delays developing its 3G network and failure to win postponements from the PTS. The PTS had just demanded that the company declare and define its 3G plans as Orange unsuccessfully offered its Swedish license to Norwegian operator Telenor.
The PTS had set a Dec. 17 deadline for a report on the progress of Orange’s base stations. The agency also set an absolute deadline of Jan. 10, 2003, for a full account of Orange’s 3G plans for next year.
As recently as Tuesday, Orange Sweden information chief Anette Gregow still refused to confirm the sale of the division, only saying that all options were being examined and that a public statement would come shortly.
