Norway’s third mobile network operator ice today announced the commercial launch of 5G services, with coverage initially spanning 14 cell sites in the Oslo area, using the 2100MHz and 700MHz spectrum bands, accessible for users of ‘most Android phones that support 5G’. In the short term ice plans to expand 5G across ‘four-to-five’ of Norway’s largest cities, with a longer term target of 75% national 5G population coverage.
ice won a 3600MHz national spectrum licence in September, which becomes valid in January 2022, and the company notes that these frequencies ‘will be highly valuable for the build-out of 5G and for securing the third nationwide mobile network in Norway in the coming years’.