Universal Postal Services

Posten Bring AS is the designated operator in Norway and is responsible for ensuring the provision of the universal service.

The Postal Act states that the universal postal service should include the delivery of letter mail up to 2 kg, subscription newspapers and magazines up to 2 kg and parcels up to 20 kg. The designated operator is required to ensure one clearance five days a week and one delivery every other day to the home and premises of every natural and legal person. The postal regulations require that the designated operator must have at least one fixed service point in each municipality (post office or Post in Store). Posten Bring's concession also requires that at least 85 percent of domestic letter mail must be delivered within three days of posting, and 97 percent must be delivered within five days. There is currently a requirement for uniform postage for single items up to 50 grams, ensuring the same price for everyone across the country.

Posten's concession was last amended on July 1, 2020. More about this can be found here: New Temporary Concession for Posten Norge - regjeringen.no (pdf) (only in Norwegian)

New Temporary Concession for Posten Norge - regjeringen.no (only in Norwegian)

The Ministry of Transport has informed the Parliament that the concession will eventually be replaced by an agreement with the designated operator.

The Ministry of Transport has drawn up “Guidelines for the calculation and control of compensation for unprofitable universal postal services” (2024) (pdf) (only in Norwegian).

These guidelines are an update of the previous “Guidelines for State Purchase of Postal Services (2002)”. The guidelines address the calculation and control of compensation for the economic burden Posten Bring has by being imposed the burden of the universal postal service.

Since the turn of the millennium, the decline in letter volumes and digitalisation have led to major changes in the postal market. The volume of letters has fallen by more than 75 percent since the turn of the millennium, and there are no signs that the decline will stop. Therefore, the state's requirements for universal postal services have changed over the years. Posten Bring, as the designated operator, has been in a continuous process of adaptation and efficiency improvements.

Chapter 2 of the Postal Act regulates the universal postal service obligation. The Act regulates among other things how the designated operators are appointed and what requirements are set for the universal postal services. In December 2024 a government appointed committee delivered their report with recommendations on the design of the future postal services. The committee concluded that sustainable postal services for the future should be adapted to societal development and changing needs, while ensuring the best possible use of society's resources now and in the future.