Norwegian cellco Telenor is the latest European operator to drop voice charges, as mobile data becomes the major earner for carriers.
From June 1, the operator is introducing fixed prices for data on a number of its domestic subscription tariffs to reduce the chance of bill shock for its customers, and is making voice and SMS free on several packages. Telenor also plans to cut the cost of its music service by 50 Kroner (€6.63) per month as part of the changes, which it is applying to current and new subscribers.
Stein-Erik Vellan, divisional director for Consumer Mobile Market at Telenor Norway, says the new price structures are good news for existing subscribers and provide customers of other networks with “another reason to choose Telenor.”
Telenor’s status as Norway’s only commercial 4G service operator means data usage is soaring, Vellan explains. “[W]e are committed to adapting our subscriptions to the usage patterns of our customers,” he states, adding. “Increasing numbers of Norwegian mobile users are ‘always’ online.”
The Norwegian incumbent is the latest European carrier to drop voice and SMS charges after Telefonica subsidiary O2 Germany, which introduced free calls and messaging with four data packages in March.