The Norwegian telecoms giant Telenor has launched Scandinavia’s largest 5G pilot to selected customers in Elverum municipality, about 80 miles north of the capital city Oslo.
The pilot in Elverum is Telenor’s most elaborate 5G project to date. More than 50 customers across the municipality will be able to connect to the 5G network to test it out on mobile phones, broadband, smart TV and smart home solutions. With this launch, Telenor Norway becomes the country’s first mobile operator to integrate 5G into its mobile network.
Sigve Brekke, Telenor Group President and CEO, participated in Norway’s first live 5G video call at the launch. He said that connectivity is fundamental to modern societies and that 5G will create new experiences: “Exploring this technology here in Norway means that we can learn, test and continuously improve as we gradually introduce 5G to our markets.”
Beyond faster speeds
But 5G is about more than just faster streaming for movies and video calls. Such is the improvements to speed and latency, remotely-controlled medical procedures could soon become the norm. Telenor is partnering with Oslo University Hospital to trial such technology for ultrasounds, but the possibilities are endless.
“5G makes it possible to send expertise to where it is needed, quickly and without delay. The new network opens up the possibility for everyone to access expert help wherever they are in the country,” Doctor Henrik Brun told NRK.
