The Norwegian Competition Complaint Board sustains NCA fine in a split decision

(Fornebu 19. June 2019) Today Telenor has received the Competition Complaint Board’s conclusion on its appeal against an administrative fine imposed by the Norwegian Competition Authority. "We are disappointed not to have been heard, but we note that the minority finds the agreement to be legal. We will now review the decision thoroughly," says Petter-Børre Furberg, CEO of Telenor Norway.

On 21 June 2018, the Competition Authority decided to impose an administrative fine of NOK 788 million on Telenor. The Competition Complaint Board upholds the decision of the Norwegian Competition Authority, in a split decision.

The Competition Authority claimed that Telenor, through the pricing model in their wholesale agreement, restricted competition in the Norwegian market during the period of 2010-2014. In Telenor’s opinion the agreement between Telenor and Network Norway neither limited competition nor the development of a third network, and the price model was legal. One of three members of the Competition Complaint Board agrees with Telenor in this regard. Telenor maintains that the agreement resulted in significant price reductions for Network Norway, was better adapted to the end-user market with packages that included data offerings, and resulted in better offers to customers and increased competition in the mobile market.

“Telenor has done nothing to limit competition in the Norwegian mobile market. The case concerns an agreement from 2010 and 2014 between Telenor as a network provider and Network Norway. The agreement includes a common price model requested in the market, which we think is legal. Telenor has three months to issue writ of summons before the Gulating Court of Appeal. We will now thoroughly review the Competition Complaint Board’s decision,” says Furberg.

For more information, please contact:

Caroline Lunde, Communication Director, Telenor Norway

Press phone: +47 800 80 900