Reflections from our CEO:People, connectivity and what’s ahead

What has made the biggest impression on you during your first months at Telenor Maritime?

What has impressed me the most is the organisation and the people.

Telenor Maritime has been delivering connectivity at sea for more than 25 years, and you really feel that experience throughout the company. I’ve met incredibly skilled, committed people, and I’ve had a large number of one-to-one conversations during my first months.

Every conversation has given me valuable learnings – about the business, the maritime industry, and how closely connected people here are to what we do. Overall, my first impression is very positive, and I’m optimistic about what lies ahead.

You’ve talked about how expectations at sea are changing. What are end users actually expecting today?

Expectations have changed significantly.

Passengers, crew and offshore workers increasingly expect the same digital experience at sea as they have on land. That includes staying connected with family, joining online meetings, using social media, or simply streaming content to relax.

Connectivity is no longer seen as a luxury. It’s part of everyday life – and people expect it to just work, regardless of whether they are on land or at sea.

How are shipowners responding to these expectations from passengers and crew?

Shipowners are very aware of this shift.

They see that connectivity has become an important part of the overall service experience on board – both for passengers and for crew. Delivering reliable, well-managed connectivity is increasingly seen as a way to improve satisfaction and overall experience at sea.

So yes, shipowners are absolutely following this development, and many are actively looking at how they can offer better digital services on board.

What does this shift mean for Telenor Maritime?

It changes the way services need to be delivered.

Historically, connectivity at sea has been very different from connectivity on land. Today, that gap is becoming more visible – and closing it requires new operating models and a deeper understanding of how connectivity is actually used.

It’s no longer just about providing access. It’s about quality, stability, insight and service management. That creates a significant opportunity, but it also challenges us to rethink how we operate.

With connectivity as a foundation, Telenor Maritime is also investing in digitalisation. How do these areas connect?

They are closely connected.

At the same time as connectivity expectations are rising, shipowners are facing significantly more reporting requirements, particularly related to sustainability and emissions. Many of these processes are still manual and paper-based, which creates a heavy operational burden.

Digital workflows, structured data capture and digital checklists can make a real difference – both in terms of efficiency and compliance. By combining connectivity with digital services, we can help simplify complexity and support shipowners in their daily operations.

Looking ahead to 2026, what do you see as the biggest opportunities?

The biggest opportunity lies in our ability to evolve.

To capture future growth, we need to be willing to change how we operate, how we collaborate with customers, and how we work with partners and stakeholders. If we succeed in challenging established ways of working, there is significant potential ahead – for both our customers and for us as a company.

If you had to describe Telenor Maritime with one word, what would it be?

Passion.

There is a strong passion here – for the industry, for the customers, and for the solutions we build together.

On a more personal note – what are you looking forward to this Christmas?

I’m looking forward to slowing down and spending time with my family.

A peaceful Christmas, playing board games with my kids, and having some time to recharge the batteries before the new year starts is exactly what I’m hoping for.