Telenor disagrees with the decision of the Norwegian Competition Authority

(Fornebu, 21 June 2018) The Norwegian Competition Authority has decided to impose a fine of NOK 788 million on Telenor as a result of an investigation commencing on 4 December 2012.

To our understanding, the Competition Authority is of the opinion that Telenor offered Network Norway wholesale terms and conditions that were too favorable, and this could limit Network Norway’s roll out of its own mobile network.

"We have cooperated with the Competition Authority and facilitated their work all the way. We disagree that we have violated the Competition Act," says Berit Svendsen, CEO of Telenor Norway.

A negative decision by the Competition Authority may be appealed to the Competition Appeals Committee and later to the courts.

- The deadline for an appeal is six months. We will review all aspects of the matter, and it is likely that we will appeal the decision, "says Svendsen.

The case runs back in history. The Competition Authority's assertion is that Telenor through the price model in a wholesale agreement has limited competition in the Norwegian mobile market in the period of 2010-2014. The Competition Authority believes that Telenor has violated the rule that prohibits abuse of dominant market position. For this, the Competition Authority has imposed a fine of NOK 788 million on Telenor.

In November 2016, the Competition Authority announced that they also believed that Telenor had violated the Competition Act by agreeing to one-delivery terms in four wholesale agreements. After the notice, the Competition Authority has changed its view and dropped this part of the case without finding violations of the rules.