Nkom orders Telia and Lyse Tele to secure emergency calls

The Norwegian Communications Authority (Nkom) has instructed telecommunications providers Telia and Lyse Tele to ensure that customers can successfully make emergency calls. The issue arises because certain mobile phones still require 2G network connectivity to reach emergency services. Telia decommissioned its 2G network in the autumn of 2025, and Lyse Tele does not operate its own 2G network.

Nkom has mandated that these companies identify affected devices and inform customers. Currently, users dependent on 2G must rely on Telenor’s 2G network to reach emergency services. If the issue cannot be resolved through other means, Nkom stated that affected phones may ultimately be blocked from the mobile network to prioritize health and safety.

As of August 20, Lyse Tele had identified 744 active phones with this issue, including 19 devices with a software error preventing the recognition of emergency numbers 110 and 113. Telia reported no affected phones in its network at that time. Identified phones that cannot be fixed must be blocked within six weeks of a decision, while new cases must be blocked within two months of identification.