What happened
On 16 October the Norwegian Competition Authority (Konkurransetilsynet) approved Telia and NextGenTel as buyers of fibre infrastructure and customers that Telenor must divest. The sale is a condition of Telenor's acquisition of GlobalConnect's residential customer business.
The remedy
The authority cleared Telenor's acquisition on 8 June 2026, subject to conditions. Telenor could not complete the deal until the authority had approved suitable, independent buyers for the divested assets. The divestments are:
- To Telia: GlobalConnect fibre infrastructure and the associated customers in areas where both Telenor and GlobalConnect run their own fibre networks.
- To NextGenTel: GlobalConnect customers who receive broadband over Telenor's fibre network.
Director Gjermund Nese said it had been important that the assets went to companies able to compete with Telenor, especially in Northern Norway, where Telenor and GlobalConnect had competed most directly.
Further commitments
Telenor has also agreed to open GlobalConnect's fibre network to competing fibre providers. The authority said it would monitor how these extra conditions are implemented.
Next steps
Telenor can complete the acquisition once the sales to Telia and NextGenTel have closed.
Timeline
- Notification received: 7 November 2025
- Further review notice: 12 December 2025
- Possible intervention notice: 27 March 2026
- Conditional approval: 8 June 2026
- Buyers approved: 16 October 2026
Why it matters financially
The decision clears the final regulatory hurdle for Telenor to consolidate GlobalConnect's consumer fibre business. It also moves customers and network assets to Telia and NextGenTel, so those rivals gain scale in Norwegian broadband. The commitment to open GlobalConnect's network to other providers creates wholesale access opportunities. The authority did not publish deal values.