Norway’s major telecoms provider Telenor reported “technical problems” on Wednesday that disrupted mobile phone- and some internet service all over the country. Emergency numbers used to call for urgent medical assistance (113), the police (112) or fire departments (110) were also affected. State authorities advised all those calling for help to stay on the line until they could hear it ring.
Telenor officials confirmed at midday that customers weren’t getting through to emergency services from mobile telephones. All police districts were also having trouble with their telephone networks as were the numbers 116 and 117 for legevakt (urgent medical care facilities).
‘Stay on the line’
Thomas Berg of the state health directorate told Norwegian Broadcasting (NRK) that it was still possible for people needing emergency help to get through: “The problem is that connections are very slow. People calling in experience that it’s quiet at the other end, but they must stay on the line even though they don’t hear it ringing.” The message, in other words, was “don’t hang up!” After two to 40 seconds, callers could hear the normal ring tone and their call could be taken.
In Oslo, the emergency number 113 was out of order for around 10 minutes before people could get through after waiting for a delayed ring. Emergency services could also be contacted via alternative numbers for specific counties.
It’s the third time Telenor has had telephone trouble in the past three months. The national communications authority Nkom is investigating. “It’s extremely serious and we think unacceptable that this is happening again,” Nkom director Jon-Eivind Velure told NRK.
The reason for Wednesday’s trouble was initially unclear but Telenor blamed it later in the day on “a power failure in one of our centrals that may have taken a battery back-up with it.” There were no signs, according to Telenor’s coverage director Bjørn Amundsen, of any sabotage or cyber attack on the system.
NewsinEnglish.no staff
