OSLO, Norway, Oct. 3, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- Telenor (Nasdaq:TELN):
Telenor Business Solutions will be restructuring their Operational Services division to simplify and improve the division's commercial development. Four former units will be merged and restructured. The staff reductions will affect 239 out of a total of 923 employees in the division. An additional 35 employees will be offered new employment elsewhere as a consequence of relocation processes. 17 employees will be transferred to Telenor Networks.
The setting up of the new Operational Services division is the result of a merger between four different operational units at Telenor. Telenor's internal operational unit IDT/eRAF, responsible for developing Telenor's new IT solution, will be downsized from project organisation status to operational organisation status. In addition, synergies will be realised by merging internal operational units and Telenor's operational units for customer solutions and Business Consulting.
At the same time the Operational Services division will concentrate its activities around four regional centres (Bergen, Lillehammer, Oslo and Trondheim). These changes will not affect Telenor Business Solutions' remaining activities or regional commercial commitments.
"Over the course of last year, we have been merging, integrating and rescaling our operations in the business market. This has been a demanding, but unavoidable process. The basic work of developing a wholesome operation has now been completed, including standardization of our operational units, which will allow us to realize scale advantages in our output. We are still facing serious market challenges, but we are now far better prepared for continuing Telenor's operations in the business market," said Morten Lundal, CEO of Telenor Business Solutions.
Discussions with personnel organisations have been held, and all employees have been informed of the restructuring measures at local information meetings.