Norwegian communications regulator Nkom said it has chosen the consultants Egde and Norkart for the contract to established a website mapping passive infrastructure to support broadband expansion. The Ekomportal is due for launch in the first quarter of 2021. Nkom said it received four qualified bids to provide the centralised information service.
The e-com portal will include information about engineering works under way or planned for the future. Network owners will be able to publicise their fibre services and transmission capacity, which could stimulate competition in the market.
Nkom technology director Per Eirik Heimdal said the regulator will hold talks with infrastructure owners, who are obliged to provide information to the portal, and broadband developers, who will use it. This cooperation aims to ensure that the portal has relevant information that users are looking for.
The initial version of the portal will provide information fulfilling the legal requirements of the law to encourage broadband expansion, but eventually, the plan is to develop it so that it creates value for the sector and for society, said Heimdal.