Page 326 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Sweden

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Communications and Media

Sweden has a top-ranking telecommunications industry mobile network is based on
and high living standards have placed the Swedes among GSM, and most foreign visitors
the world’s biggest users of telephones. Although the fixed will be able to use their GSM,
telephone system is well developed, there are now nearly 3G or 4G phones here. However,
visitors from North America
as many mobile phone users as there are people in the should check with their service
country. With the advent of the 3G and 4G systems allowing providers to ensure their
video telephony and advanced data services, only a very phones are GSM-compatible.
small percentage of the population does not have coverage. The major network providers in
Internet use is widespread, with impressive investment Sweden include Telia, Telenor,
Tele2/Comviq and 3 Sweden.
in broadband.
Inexpensive GSM mobile phones
can be purchased at a number
mobile phone. The remaining of stores, including The Phone
public phones are mainly card- House (in Stockholm), Telia and
operated and are usually found Telenor, together with a prepaid
in public places such as hospitals, SIM card for local phone calls.
airports and public-transport Within the Stockholm area,
locations. They are owned by mobile users must dial the area
Telia and are cheapest to use code 08 before a local number;
with a Swedish phone card. the country code is not required.
These can be bought at news- The GSM network offers good
paper kiosks (for example, service coverage outside the
Pressbyrån) and in supermarkets cities. Having a mobile phone
and shops, and are available for is a good idea even out in the
50 or 120 units. Instructions on wilderness, although there is no
how to use public telephones guarantee that you will be able
are also shown in English. The to call for help if you need it.
A modern Swedish phone kiosk emergency number is 112. Some
020 and 0200 numbers can be
Local and International called free of charge. Coin- Internet
Phone Calls
operated phones are very rare. Although Internet access is
Sweden is divided into 250 offered in most hotels, you may
dialling code areas. The prefix Mobile Phones be charged a daily fee. Hotels
for international calls from that focus on business travellers
Sweden is 00. Then dial the It is wise to contact your phone may have computers available
country code and the phone provider, prior to travelling, to for use. Public computers can
number without the initial zero clarify whether international be found at local libraries; users
of the area code. To dial Sweden roaming is activated on your may be asked to present some
from abroad, the country code mobile and discuss daily rates. form of identification.
is 46. For enquiries such as A pre-paid SIM might be cheaper Wireless Internet (Wi-Fi) is
whether your phone will but talking to the relevant widely available, with many
operate in the mountains, call provider is advisable. Sweden’s public places, hotels and cafés
Telia customer services.
Local numbers can be
obtained by calling directory
enquiries on 118 118, or online
at Eniro (www.eniro.se) or Hitta
(www.hitta.se). The number for
directory enquiries also provides
listings of mobile numbers.
Computer-to-computer phone
calls allow visitors to call free
of charge using the Internet.
Popular service providers
include Skype and Google Talk.

Public Telephones
The number of public telephone
kiosks has shown a marked
decline, as most Swedes have a Computer terminals at the Stockholm Public Library

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