Norvans, the planned Norwegian value added network to be operated by the Norwegian PTT with the country’s export community faces a delay because of restrictive domestic telecommunications legislation. A memo circulated earlier this month by the Norwegian PTT to all parties involved in the project pointed out that current legislation in Norway makes no provision for value added network services, and the PTT also retains a monopoly over all switched services and leased lines. According to the project manager at Norways PTT: this renders aspects of the project illegal. The Norwegian Ministry for Transport and Communications is now making recommendations on changes to the law, which may be put to parliament next spring. The first nodes of the X25-based network were scheduled for installation at the beginning of next year and suppliers have already received informal requests for tender plans. Norvans is expected to offer X400 message handling, electronic data interchange and data communications, and other applications are being reviewed. International links are in the plan, initially to London, New York, Tokyo, Australia and Singapore, although the medium cable, satellite or whatever – is still to be decided. Between 35 and 50 private-sector Norwegian companies, primarily in the export business are understood to have expressed interest in the venture, and the user group also includes members from the oil and insurance industries.
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