Telenor is upgrading its presence in the UK with a move to new offices that will also include its own uplink facilities. The new offices in Bernard Street, central London, measure 11,500 square feet, five times that of the present location.

David Gilmore, managing director, Telenor UK, said that the company had at the end of last year met its original business plan, set when it was established in June 1996. In addition to satellite services other Telenor and Telia (following the merger with its Swedish counterpart) companies have a presence in the UK: the Norsk Data Company, providing IT services; Storm Communications, offering terrestrial communications and Telia UK, a data and telephone retailer.

The new uplink facility, on the roof of the new premises, will uplink a new, as yet unnamed, multiplex to Telenor’s Thor 3 satellite at one degree West. There will also be the facility to transmit data and video to the Telenor-leased Intesat 707, also at one degree West, and a steerable antenna for connectivity to the BT Tower. The antenna facility is likely to be in operation in early February.

Telenor UK is maintaining its links with BT, which transmits to Thor II from its facility in Madely. The Thor 2 frequency range is outside those bands permitted for London-based uplinks.