Phone, internet and utilities in Finland: getting connected

Finland does a great deal of its daily business online, from tax and health services to banking and transport tickets. InfoFinland, the information service of Finnish public authorities, advises newcomers to get an internet connection as soon as possible after moving. Connecting a phone, broadband and electricity follows a predictable order, and one detail drives most of it: whether you already have a Finnish personal identity code.

Mobile phone service

### Prepaid first

If you have just landed and your identity code or address is not sorted yet, start with a prepaid subscription. According to InfoFinland, you need neither a Finnish personal identity code nor a Finnish address for prepaid. You load a sum onto the card in advance and use it for calls. Prepaid subscriptions are sold at R-kiosks, some supermarkets and online.

A Finnish number from day one is useful. Landlords, employers and authorities will want a local number, and many Finnish services send confirmation codes by text message.

### A regular subscription

A standard subscription gives you a Finnish phone number on a monthly plan. Many companies sell them. InfoFinland lists the requirements:

• a Finnish personal identity code;
• an address in Finland;
• normally, information on your payment behavior, meaning you have paid your bills and have no payment default entry in your credit history.

If you cannot show this history, as is common for newcomers with no Finnish credit record, you may need to make an advance payment for the subscription. Many Americans keep the prepaid card until their identity code and address are registered, then switch.

### Your US number

Decide early what to do with your US phone number. US banks, brokerages and the IRS often send security codes by text to a US number. Porting it to a low-cost US plan or a number-keeping service before you leave avoids being locked out of accounts later.

Home internet

You get home internet by signing a contract with an internet service provider. InfoFinland notes there are many providers and many types of connection, and recommends comparing prices before you sign.

Before you choose:

• check what connection types reach your building, and ask the landlord or housing company whether a connection is already included;
• compare contract length and any notice period;
• consider whether a mobile data plan alone would cover your needs.

Until you are connected, InfoFinland points out that libraries offer free internet to library card holders, and the library card itself is free. Some cafés also offer customers internet access.

Electricity

In most rental homes, you sign the electricity contract yourself. InfoFinland's tenancy page explains you can do it by calling an electricity company and giving your name and new address. Do this before moving day so the power stays on in your name.

### Choosing a contract

Finland has fixed-price contracts and exchange-price (spot) contracts. InfoFinland's energy-saving guidance explains:

• with an exchange electricity contract, power is usually cheaper outside the peak hours;
• peak hours on weekdays are 8.00 to 9.00 and 17.00 to 19.00;
• high national consumption at expensive times eventually raises fixed-contract prices too.

The Energy Authority runs sahkonhinta.fi, a comparison service for working out which contract suits you. The Tuntihinta app tracks hourly prices, though only in Finnish.

### Cutting the bill

Heating is the big energy cost in a cold country. InfoFinland's figures:

| Tip | Effect or recommendation | |---|---| | Lower room temperature by one degree | Saves about 5 percent of heating energy | | Bedroom temperature | 18 to 20 °C recommended | | Other rooms | 20 to 21 °C recommended | | Heavy appliances | Run them outside weekday peak hours | | Electric car | Charge off-peak |

Your electricity company's app shows which parts of your daily routine use the most power.

Water

Tenants usually pay a water rate together with the rent, either to the landlord or the housing company. It is often based on the number of residents. If your apartment has its own water meter, you pay by use. Read your lease to see which applies.

Waste and recycling

Sorting is part of daily life. InfoFinland says households usually separate:

• paper and cardboard;
• glass packaging;
• metal;
• plastic packaging;
• biowaste, including food scraps, coffee grounds and kitchen paper;
• mixed waste;
• hazardous waste, electrical equipment and batteries.

Instructions vary a little by municipality and are usually posted next to your building's containers, or you can ask your municipality or landlord. Do not take rubbish to another housing company's containers. Shared recycling points are listed on kierratys.info. Never flush rubbish, food or chemicals down the toilet.

Second-hand buying is commonplace in Finland, so furnishing a home from flea markets and online sales is normal.

Online banking credentials: the key to everything digital

Getting connected in Finland is not only about cables and SIM cards. Much of Finnish online life, including many official services, works through strong electronic identification, and for most residents that means online banking credentials. InfoFinland recommends requesting them when you open a bank account, because with them you can handle many official matters online.

There is a catch for newcomers. The requirements for online banking credentials are stricter than those for opening an account, so in some cases you will not get credentials even with an account. Ask your bank exactly what it requires, and keep handling matters in person or by paper forms until the credentials arrive. Budget a little patience for this step; it is often the last piece that falls into place.

Home insurance

Utilities come with one more contract worth arranging. InfoFinland recommends home insurance, which covers damage to furniture and other belongings, and notes that landlords usually require it in rental homes. Ask several insurance companies for quotes, and have the policy start on the day your lease begins.

Safety equipment

Every home must have at least one smoke detector, InfoFinland states. Check it works when you move in. Keep the washing machine valve closed when the machine is not in use, which is a simple way to prevent water damage.

Your first-week checklist

1. Buy a prepaid SIM at the airport or an R-kiosk.
2. Arrange electricity in your name before moving day.
3. Check what internet your building offers, then compare providers.
4. Read the recycling instructions by your building's bins.
5. Test the smoke detector.
6. Switch to a monthly phone plan once your identity code and address are registered.

Common questions

Can I get a Finnish SIM card without a personal identity code? Yes, a prepaid subscription needs no Finnish personal identity code or address and is sold at R-kiosks, some supermarkets and online.

What do I need for a monthly phone contract in Finland? A Finnish personal identity code, a Finnish address and normally a clean payment history; otherwise an advance payment may be required.

Who arranges electricity in a Finnish rental? Usually the tenant signs a contract with an electricity company, by phone with a name and new address.

When is electricity most expensive in Finland? Weekday peak hours are 8.00 to 9.00 and 17.00 to 19.00, when an exchange-price contract usually costs more.