Telenor has launched the world’s northernmost 5G pilot on the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard, where new standard will be tested against the rigours of the Arctic climate. The pilot will launch on 20 October.
When 4G was introduced to Norway in 2012, residents of the Artic archipelago of Svalbard were among the first to test the technology. As the dawn of the 5G standard breaks, residents of the island community will again be among the first in the country to test the next generation network.
Telenor intends to use 2019 to experiment, explore and learn as much as possible about 5G. This is why Svalbard’s Arctic’s landscape of glaciers, mountains and fjords, and the tundra climate presents unique conditions for Telenor to learn as much as possible about the geographical and topographical challenges faced by the new mobile network prior to commercial launch in 2020.
Subject already to extreme weather conditions, rendered even more difficult as a result of climate change, 5G can prove a particularly vital technology in a location such as Svalbard. As a result, Telenor is now considering testing drones, emergency networks and 360 degree cameras over 5G on the archipelago.
Sigve Brekke, President and CEO, Telenor Group
The experiences we gain from here will be critical as we bring connectivity to more corners of the world where a changing climate requires us to both utilise resources better and work in new ways with partners and communities to transform.
Petter Furberg, CEO of Telenor Norway
Svalbard is a unique region in the global context, and the ideal location for testing the super network of the future. We are starting small, and will extend the pilot to include some very interesting user areas in the longer-term.
