Media and industrial companies will build 5G networks themselves – E24

With the advent of 5G, there has also been a debate as to whether the technology can also be used by other companies than telecoms.

This can be done, for example, if fish farmers, television channels or industrial companies can create their own 5G networks protected from other users, where they need it.

Last week, Telia announced that it will now offer private mobile networks to users with special needs related to performance and security.

Ingebrigt Lunde, project manager at the Nordic 5G Consortium, is one of those who believes that more people should be allowed to access these types of networks.

– Sweden and Germany have already opened up to this. We think we are making a small mistake as a nation if we only want to assign all frequencies to telecommunications companies, Lunde tells E24.

He points out that 5G is more than a mobile technology:

– 5G is the best wireless technology we’ve seen so far and it has a much broader application than just being a mobile standard, says Lunde.

He is not the only one who wants the authorities to open up to more than telecommunications companies.

In a discussion post on Aftenposten, among others, Sverre Gotaas, CEO of Herøya Industrial Park, Svenn-Tore Larsen, CEO of Nordic Semiconductor, Silvija Seres at LØRN. TECH and Birger Steen at Summa Equity defend this.

– If you want to organize the Ski World Cup, you can set up your own network

The Nordic 5G Consortium is an organization that promotes the interests of content producers in the development of 5G and is part of the Norwegian Media Cluster in Media City, Bergen.

Big media companies like TV2, NRK and Schibsted (owner of E24) are among those behind it.

Lunde points to radio and television production as an example of why they think companies other than telecommunications should be allowed to build networks:

If you want to send a reporter to the field, you can use the public mobile network. But if you are organizing a Grand Prix or a Ski World Cup, you can set up your own network for this, says Lunde.

– Are you afraid that Telia, Telenor and Ice will obtain a kind of monopoly in the construction of networks with 5G?

– Yes, it will be in practice, says Lunde.

In Norway, the National Communications Authority regulates the use of Norwegian frequencies and, in dialogue with Telenor, Telia and Ice, ensures that the different mobile networks do not interfere with each other.

– How to keep track of frequencies if so many different players can set up networks and it will end in inefficient use of frequencies?

– Norway has the topography that we have. If we had been a country the size of Luxembourg, it would have been a problem, but it will not be in Norway, says Lunde and continues:

– The idea is not that individuals can do it, but business actors. Then of course there must be an application process to be able to set up a network.

Telia on network development: – Quite complex

Business developments Henning Huuse and Head of Corporate Market Jon Christian Hillestad at Telia Norway explain their views on the possibility that companies other than telecommunications can work with mobile networks:

– In principle, we have nothing against the allocation of a mobile spectrum to the industry. Most importantly, there is as much spectrum available as possible, and we believe telcos are best positioned to use spectrum optimally, Huuse says, continuing:

– If you open up to other players, it means that you take away the common cake that is available.

– Building and operating mobile networks is our main competence. At first, there were probably more who said they wanted to jump in, but as you looked closer, more people probably saw that this is quite complex, says Hillestad.

Waiting for the Government’s response

The government has not yet concluded whether they will allow companies other than telecoms to secure mobile frequencies in Norway. That decision is expected before the summer.

– We believe that both mobile and broadband providers will be interested in acquiring frequencies, said District Minister and Digitization Linda Hofstad Helleland (H) in early February.

Then the government launched the auction of new mobile frequencies (also called spectrum) for use in 5G. The government put a discount of NOK 560 million on the table for mobile companies to build even better coverage.

– Do you want to let other players go or are mobile frequencies reserved for telecommunications companies?

– Soon I will submit a report to the Storting (on the digital basis, journal.anm.) Where I will return to him, said Hofstad Helleland.