Telia Norway and ice agree to create jointly owned mobile radio access network to improve national coverage and efficiency

Photo Telia Company Andreas Lind

(IN BRIEF) Telia Norway and Lyse, owner of the mobile operator ice, have agreed to create a 50/50 jointly owned company that will combine their mobile radio access networks in Norway, with operations expected to start in Q2 2026, while both companies will continue to run separate core networks as independent competitors. The integrated RAN is intended to significantly improve mobile coverage, particularly in rural areas by 2027, strengthening digital resilience and increasing competition and consumer choice. Telia expects the collaboration to generate clear financial benefits through cost and CAPEX synergies, while both Telia and Lyse leaders emphasized that the combined network will support continued investment, better services for customers, and stronger nationwide connectivity.

(PRESS RELEASE) STOCKHOLM, 3-Feb-2026 — /EuropaWire/ — Telia Norway and Lyse, the Norwegian energy and telecommunications group that owns the mobile operator ice, have reached an agreement in principle to establish a jointly owned company that will integrate their respective mobile radio access networks (RANs) in Norway. The new entity, owned equally by both parties, is expected to begin operations in the second quarter of 2026 and will combine the two operators’ RAN infrastructure while leaving their core networks separate.

Through this collaboration, Telia Norway and ice aim to significantly enhance mobile coverage across the country, with tangible improvements anticipated as early as 2027. The expanded network footprint is expected to be particularly beneficial for rural and less densely populated areas, where connectivity has traditionally been more limited. By pooling their radio access resources, the two companies intend to strengthen digital resilience in Norway while fostering a more competitive mobile market that offers consumers greater choice.

Under the agreed structure, the new jointly owned company will take full ownership of Telia Norway’s and ice’s mobile RAN assets, including base stations, antennas, and related radio equipment. It will then provide RAN services back to both operators based on their respective capacity usage. While the physical network will be integrated, Telia Norway and ice will retain ownership and control of their individual spectrum assets, which will be made available to the shared network. Both companies will continue to operate as independent competitors with separate core networks.

Telia has indicated that the network combination is expected to generate meaningful financial benefits by unlocking substantial cost efficiencies and capital expenditure synergies. The company plans to provide more detailed information regarding the financial impact of the agreement during the first half of 2026.

Bjørn Ivar Moen, Head of Telia Norway, emphasized that scale is increasingly necessary in the telecommunications industry to support continued investment in network quality, coverage, and capacity. He noted that combining Telia’s and ice’s networks will enable both companies to offer more competitive services to customers nationwide, challenge the market leader more effectively, and contribute to Norway’s digital robustness in an evolving technological landscape.

Kristin Dahle Larsen, Executive Director of Lyse’s telecommunications division, highlighted that improved coverage and capacity will empower consumers with more options when choosing mobile services. She added that the partnership with Telia aligns with Lyse’s ambition to continue investing in and developing high-quality mobile infrastructure across Norway.

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Telia Company (STO: TELIA) is a leading telecommunications operator in the Nordic and Baltic regions. Every day, we deliver world-class connectivity and communications services to millions of customers through our sustainable and secure networks – enabling people, businesses and societies to thrive and grow. Our unique position at the center of digitalization shapes our ambition to be a trusted and progressive partner and gives us our purpose: to reinvent better connected living. Find out more at www.teliacompany.com.

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SOURCE: Telia Company AB