The Norwegian competition authority has granted approval for Telia and NextGenTel to acquire GlobalConnect's fiber infrastructure and customer base. This decision allows Telenor to move forward with its acquisition of GlobalConnect's residential customer operations.

To secure approval for the acquisition, Telenor proposed several measures, including the sale of fiber infrastructure and customers in areas where both companies have their own fiber networks. Additionally, Telenor suggested selling GlobalConnect's customers who receive broadband through Telenor's network.

The acquisition could not proceed until the conditions related to the sale of customers and infrastructure were met, as the competition authority needed to evaluate and approve the prospective buyers.

The authority concluded that Telia and NextGenTel meet the requirements to be independent and suitable buyers. It was crucial for the competition authority that the customers and infrastructure are taken over by companies capable of competing against Telenor, especially in Northern Norway, where Telenor and GlobalConnect have primarily competed with each other.

With the competition authority's approval of the proposed buyers, Telenor can now complete the acquisition of GlobalConnect's residential customer operations once the sales are finalized. Telenor has also committed to additional measures to maintain competition in the broadband market, including opening GlobalConnect's fiber network to competing fiber providers. The competition authority will monitor the implementation of these conditions in accordance with its decision.