Telenor has hired Accenture, a long-time business partner, to support its Norwegian business unit’s cloud adoption roadmap.  

Norway is both the home of Telenor’s headquarters and one of its largest markets. The telco, which operates in many regions around the world, is the Nordic nation’s top provider of 5G wireless networking.

Telenor and Accenture’s announcement of their new consulting deal was a bit light on details. But they did share a general outline that hints the collaboration will be significant in scope.

Telenor Norway said Accenture will “help modernize its IT organization by transitioning to a cloud-based environment.” Additionally, Accenture will upskill members of the telco’s IT team by training them in new software tools and data management techniques.

“We are supporting Telenor in their digital transformation while also developing a lasting culture of innovation,” commented Torbjørn Eik-Nes, Accenture’s top executive in Norway. “This will enable Telenor to stay agile and competitive in the telecommunications industry.”

The announcement didn’t go into the specifics, leaving out key pieces of information like what cloud services Telenor Norway plans to adopt. One possible reason for the taciturn approach: the project’s technical details have not yet been finalized and the companies want to leave their options open.

It’s possible to fill in some of the blanks with educated guesses. A quick look at Accenture’s menu of services for the telecom sector can provide plenty of insight into what type of cloud projects it could take on for Telenor Norway.

For telco clients, Accenture carries out standard IT modernization initiatives like moving on-premise ERP systems to the cloud. In one project, Accenture worked with Vodafone on what the companies describe as one of the largest SAP ERP upgrades on file.

More notably, Accenture also assists carriers with modernizing their core wireless network infrastructure. That infrastructure represents the single most mission-critical component of a carrier’s technology stack.

In a 2021 Everest Group report, Accenture received a higher score than any other major consultancy for the strength of its 5G engineering services.

Telenor Norway and Accenture have worked together on technology modernization projects for more than two decades. The new cloud deal Accenture has nabbed from the carrier underscores the value of long-term business partnerships in slow-moving, risk-averse markets like the telecommunications sector.

Telenor Norway is no stranger to technology transformations. 

The company started out in 1855 as a telegraph operator and not only went on to become Norway’s leading provider of 5G services, but also established a presence in the TV broadcasting market. It even operates its own network of television broadcasting satellites.

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