Sweden - Communications (Telephone, Post, Internet, TV, Radio)

Most main post offices are open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays to Fridays, and from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. The Post Office also now has 3000 service outlets in grocery stores and petrol stations for bill payments and basic postal services. Postal stamps can be purchased in many shops and supermarkets. In many areas of Sweden there are two daily postal deliveries on weekdays, but none at weekends. It is normal practice for apartments to have no number, only the tenant's name on the door, and for the postman and other delivery staff to be given the security code for entry to the building.

The largest fixed line telephone company in Sweden is Telia (www.telia.se). All calls are charged for individually, but with lower-off peak charges in the evenings and at weekends. Bills are sent out every two months and are not itemized.

There are more mobile phones in usage in Sweden than there are people in the population. The biggest mobile phone operators include TeliaSonera, Tele 2 and Vodafone.

Sweden has the highest level of internet usage in the world, and most buildings are cabled for broadband internet access. It has been estimated that 77% of the Swedish population have online access. There are around 30 internet service providers. The largest companies providing broadband internet access in Sweden are Bahnhof Internet, Bredbandsbolaget, com hem, Glocalnet, Spray and TeliaSonera.

The main terrestrial TV channels are run by Sverige Television, the national broadcaster, and TV4, a commercial station. TV broadcasting is being digitised throughout the country. Around two thirds of Swedish households have cable or satellite TV, with a very wide choice of channels. There are various cable companies providing services in different areas of the country.

There are around 100 radio stations in Sweden, with a mix of public and commercial broadcasting.

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