Page 198 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Stockholm

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Communications and Media

Sweden has a top-ranking telecommunications industry, one
of the most successful and innovative in the world. High living
standards have placed the Swedes among the world’s biggest
users of mobile telephones, and there is a very high level of
Internet usage. Telephone cards – and usually credit or debit Logo of Telenor network provider
cards – can be used to make a call from a public telephone,
while a mobile phone can be purchased at a relatively low The major network providers in
price. With free Wi-Fi access readily available, there is no risk Sweden include Telia, Telenor,
of being cut off from the world here. Tele2/Comviq and 3 Sweden.
Inexpensive GSM mobile phones
can be purchased at a number
of stores, including The Phone
House, Telia or Telenor, together
with a pre-paid SIM card for local
phone calls.
Within the Stockholm area,
mobile users need to dial the
area code 08 before a local
number – the country code is
not needed.

Internet Facilities
Most hotels offer guests email
and fax services. Furthermore,
nearly all hotels and hostels in
the Stockholm area offer Internet
The interior of the Stadsbiblioteket (City Library) access, although they may charge
a daily fee. Public computers are
generally available at local
International and Local Mobile Phones libraries, such as the Stockholm
Telephone Calls The number of telephone kiosks City Library at Odengatan 63.
The prefix for international calls in Sweden has shown a marked Users may be asked to present
from Sweden is 00 followed by decline in recent years because some form of identification.
the country code, the area code virtually every Swede has a Sidewalk Express offers pay-
(omitting any initial 0) and the mobile phone. Sweden’s mobile per-minute Internet access from
local number. network is based on GSM, and computer terminals at Arlanda
Public telephones are usually most foreign visitors can use Airport, Central Station, and a
operated by phone cards, which their GSM phones. However, number of Pressbyrån and
are sold at newspaper kiosks visitors from North America 7-Eleven stores throughout the
and shops. Normal credit cards should check with their service city. The cost varies by location
and most international providers to ensure their but usually ranges from 25–35
telephone cards can also be phones are GSM-compatible. kr per hour.
used, although the charge per Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) access
minute is generally higher. It is is widely available for visitors
possible to make reverse-charge with their own phones and
(collect) calls and calls to the computers. Most hotels, many
emergency number 112 (free of cafés and all Max Hamburgers
charge) from all phones. Coin- restaurants offer free Wi-Fi.
operated phones are becoming
increasingly rare. Postal Services
Local numbers can be
obtained by ringing directory The Swedish postal system –
enquiries on 118 118, or on the easily recognized by its blue-
Internet at Eniro (www.eniro.se) and-gold symbol – is based on
or at Hitta (www.hitta.se). a series of small postal kiosks
Computer-to-computer phone located in local grocery stores,
calls allow visitors to call free of such as Hemköp which is one
charge using the Internet. of the most central. These kiosks
Popular service providers offer the most common services
include Skype and Google Talk. A typical Swedish telephone kiosk and are open during normal

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