OSLO, Norway, Jan. 10, 2002 (PRIMEZONE) -- As a result of a reduced demand for manual customer services, Telenor (Nasdaq:TELN) has decided to reduce manpower levels and rationalize Customer Services and Directory Inquiries in Norway. The aim is to maintain good quality and effective customer services adapted to the needs of the market. Part of this work will involve reducing the manpower levels in Customer Services and Directory Inquiries by a total of almost 420 man-years. This means annual cost reductions of approximately NOK 130 million.
The introduction of new technology and the increased use of electronic customer services on the Internet have reduced the need for manpower at both Customer Services and Directory Inquiries, which have traditionally had a high proportion of manual services. This development has been ongoing for some time and was intensified during the last quarter of 2001.
The current 18 customer support locations will be reduced to nine. Additionally, some units may be sold to external owners. Customer Services will be reduced by between 250 and 300 man-years by 2003, which is approximately 25 percent of the work force.
Directory Inquiries will close down two of the 12 units that currently carry out manual directory inquiry services in Norway. This totals 120 man-years. As from February 15, 2002 directory inquiry services in Norway will be opened for competition, which also may have impact on the future manpower levels of Directory Inquiries.
With the planned efforts, Customer Services and Directory Inquiries estimate a total cut in expenses of approximately NOK 130 million annually.
Facts About Telenor Customer Services:
Telenor Customer Services is a part of the Telenor Plus business area and serves residential customers and small and medium-sized companies. It carries out sales, advertising campaigns and customer support via telephone, letters, faxes or e-mail for the private and business market in Norway.
Facts about Telenor Teleservice:
Telenor Teleservice is a company in the Telenor Group, which, among other things, operates Contact Center services, the telephone and data conferences MeetAt 119, and the directory inquiry service (Opplysningen). Teleservice has approximately 1,500 employees in 25 locations throughout Norway in addition to subsidiaries in Norway, Sweden and Germany.
Telenor:
Telenor is an international provider of high quality telecommunications, data and media communication services, with a particularly strong focus on mobile, IP-based and broadband services. Headquartered in Oslo, Norway, the company is present in 30 countries, with revenues of approx. NOK 37.6 billion in 2000 and a work force of 23,200 man-years domestically and abroad. Telenor is listed at the Oslo Stock Exchange (TEL) and Nasdaq in New York (TELN).