Telenor's move was prompted out of necessity. Formerly known as Comsat, the firm was purchased by Telenor from Lockheed Martin at the beginning of 2002, and the deal stipulated that Telenor could remain in the Lockheed-owned building on Rock Spring Drive in Bethesda for one year. In selecting the Tower Building for its new headquarters, Telenor took several factors to heart. "The overriding factor is it's in very close proximity to where we are now, so we don't disrupt our employee base," Telenor's Thomas Surface tells GlobeSt.com. "Also, we needed a location that met our needs for space in which to move comfortably and expand our business. And we wanted a location that mirrored our corporate headquarters in Norway in that it is modern, and technologically and environmentally efficient."

The company will occupy most of the top two floors of the 10-story building, and plans to move into the space by the end of the year. As for Telenor's commitment to its new home, Surface says the company signed a "long-term lease because we not only have plans to stay in this region, but we have plans to grow in this region."