While Telenor's operations in Asia are focused most on basic voice connectivity, he sees an opportunity to use its relationship with customers to launch new services, such a m-banking and mobile advertising. "We'll use our relationship with 70 million customers in Asia, which is the most important thing that we have, to drive growth in other areas."
The company's first move into Asia was in 1997 when it invested in a mobile license in Bangladesh. He said at the time people were thinking: "You must be totally out of your mind. First of all, you've never done things in Asia before, and you picked one of the most difficult markets." That company now has 23.5 million customers and has a market capitalization of about $5 billion, after being listed last year.
Telenor acquired a bank in Bangladesh and is actively driving m-banking and mobile payments. He said just 7% of Bangladeshis have a formal bank account and the majority of branches are in the major cities. "This is a big opportunity for us."
Telenor's global strategy, he said is to be a mobile growth company. "Back home in Norway, we do everything - fixed line, broadband, broadcast, all the different things. But outside the Scandinavian market, we are focusing on mobile and on growth opportunities."
That strategy means the company is constantly looking at opportunities. "But having moved into India last year, that's our main focus now. We need to build our customer base there, deliver on the business plan targets, and show people that even in that competitive market there is a room for us. That's our main focus now rather than further expansion."
He said the company was too conservative 10 years ago when it forecast mobile penetration across the world and thinks today most people also are too conservative when it comes to mobile internet penetration.
"We think that a new big opportunity for us is to connect people to the internet in a big way. Not 10% of the population, not the cities, but the masses."