Finnish mobile is cheap, fast and simple, and it is one of the few things you can sort out completely on your first day. Here is how the market works and what to buy when.
The networks and the brands
| Network | Own brand | Discount brand on the same network |
|---|---|---|
| Elisa | Elisa | Saunalahti (Elisa's prepaid and budget brand) |
| Telia | Telia | Telia's own prepaid |
| DNA | DNA | Moi Mobiili (cheap, app-based, DNA's network) |
The discount brands use the same masts. What you pay extra for at the main brands is customer service in shops, bundles with home internet and TV, and phones on instalments.
Day one: prepaid
Buy a prepaid SIM at the R-kioski in the arrivals hall or any supermarket. No ID, no henkilötunnus. Each operator has a starter pack with some credit and a data package option. Top up online or at the kiosk. Prepaid data is more expensive per gigabyte than a contract, so treat it as a bridge.
eSIM from a global provider is the alternative if your phone supports it: activate before landing, use it for the first week, then move to a Finnish contract. The moving-to-Finland hub covers arrival eSIMs.
After DVV: a contract
Once you have a henkilötunnus and an address, order a monthly plan online or in a shop with your ID. Operators run a credit check; a new arrival with no history is usually accepted for a basic plan, sometimes with a deposit. Contracts are month to month unless you take a phone on instalments.
What to look at:
- Speed tier: 100 Mbit/s is more than enough for a phone; 5G tiers cost more and matter only if you use the phone as a home internet hotspot.
- EU roaming allowance: how many gigabytes you can use in other EU countries per month before a surcharge.
- Calls and texts: unlimited in most plans now; check if you call non-Finnish numbers.
- Price after the campaign: introductory prices last a few months; the ongoing price is the one to compare.
Prices, ranges and the current best-value picks are kept up to date on the mobile plans comparison.
Switching and keeping your number
Porting is free and standard. Order the new plan, give your existing number, and the switch happens in a few days; the old contract ends automatically. Never cancel the old one first.
The words on the operator's site
| Finnish | Meaning |
|---|---|
| liittymä | subscription, plan |
| prepaid-liittymä | prepaid |
| rajaton data | unlimited data |
| nopeus | speed |
| EU-roaming, EU-datakatto | EU roaming, EU data cap |
| numeron siirto | number porting |
| avausmaksu | activation fee |
| määräaikainen sopimus | fixed-term contract (usually with a phone) |
| irtisanominen | cancellation |
| lasku, e-lasku | bill, e-invoice |
Home internet
Before ordering anything, ask whether your building has taloyhtiön laajakaista, a housing-company broadband included in the rent or available for a few euros a month. Most apartment buildings in cities do. If not, a 5G home router plan from any operator is the quickest option; fibre if the building is connected. Details and current picks in the home internet comparison.