OSLO, Norway—Norway’s Telenor Mobile said it will open its third-generation (3G) network on 1 December according to its license conditions. The Universal Mobile Telecommunications System network (UMTS) will initially cover central areas of Oslo.
Telenor will be the first European operator to officially launch a 3G network, although due to a lack of available handsets, the network will not be commercially used except for voice calls. Other European countries have postponed their 3G launches due to a lack of mobile phones and demand for services.
“Although UMTS terminals and services will not be available to the general public for a number of months yet, it is extremely valuable for Telenor Mobile and its partners to open a network that can be used for trial and development activities,” the company said in a statement. “This will contribute to keeping Norway in the forefront when it comes to developing mobile services.”
The network will be expanded to cover more towns and densely populated areas before it is in full practical operation, Telenor said. UMTS handsets are not expected to be available before third-quarter 2002.
