Mobile data transfer up north

May 1, 2008 8:07 AM

Mobile Internet access options in Scandinavia? For a foreigner, preferably no long term contract.

I'll be in Scandinavia this summer for about 2 months and will need regular and spontaneous Internet access. The time will be mostly spent in Norway, with maybe 2 weeks in Sweden.

I know mobile services are very advanced and cheap in all of Scandinavia. But are there local carriers that offer short term contracts (no one or two year obligations)? Pay by call or volume based options? Available to non-residents without a local bank account or credit card?

Thanks!

posted by uncle harold to travel & transportation (2 comments total)

To clarify: without a local credit card.
posted by uncle harold at 8:16 AM on May 1

For Sweden: I'm not sure that "cheap" is really a good descriptor, but perhaps it's not so bad if you have the Euro as your main currency to compare with. The problem will be that the 3G-based USB modems, which are indeed plentiful and common, will require a year's contract and thus a Swedish social security number. Likewise any unlimited data plan on a regular SIM card, tethered via a handset to your computer.

You can always get a cash SIM card, and even one that allows GPRS/3G data, but these are all debited according to the kilobyte and it would be ruinous to attempt to use these as a data connection.

Your best bet might be a Telia Hotspot subscription (or other WiFi provider), which you can get with any credit card -- but this will only be useful if you will be near one of their 802.11 base stations.
posted by squid patrol at 8:33 AM on May 1