Getting a phone plan and internet at home
The phone shop conversation, choosing a plan without a Swedish credit history, ordering fibre for the new flat, and the customer-service call when the internet dies — three errands, one week.
Newcomers hit the same wall: a contract plan needs a personnummer and often a credit check, so the first weeks run on prepaid. Home internet comes through the fibre socket in the wall, ordered from whichever operator serves the building. This deck covers the shop, the order, and the outage call — including the vocabulary of 'restart the router'.
- 1
Hej, jag behöver ett svenskt nummer.
Hi, I need a Swedish number.
Tip: Straight to the point works in Sweden.
- 2
Har du personnummer?
Do you have a personal identity number?
Tip: No article. The question that decides everything.
- 3
Inte än — jag väntar på det.
Not yet — I'm waiting for it.
Tip: 'vänta på' = wait for.
- 4
Då är kontantkort enklast att börja med.
Then prepaid is the easiest to start with.
Tip: 'enklast' = easiest.
- 5
Hur mycket surf ingår?
How much data is included?
Tip: 'ingå' = be included.
- 6
Tio gig för 149 i månaden.
Ten gigabytes for 149 a month.
Tip: 'gig' = GB; 'i månaden' = a month.
- 7
Kan jag byta till abonnemang senare och behålla numret?
Can I switch to a contract later and keep the number?
Tip: 'byta till' = switch to.
- 8
Ja, inga problem — när du har fått ditt personnummer.
Yes, no problem — once you have your personnummer.
Tip: 'när du har fått' = once you've received.
- 9
Behöver jag visa legitimation?
Do I need to show ID?
Tip: Yes, even for prepaid since 2022.
- 10
Ja, pass går bra.
Yes, a passport is fine.
Tip: 'går bra' = is fine.
- 11
Jag har precis flyttat och behöver internet hemma.
I've just moved and need internet at home.
Tip: 'precis' = just.
- 12
Finns det fiber i huset?
Is there fibre in the building?
Tip: 'i huset' = in the building.
- 13
Det sitter ett uttag i hallen där det står 'fiber'.
There's a socket in the hallway that says 'fiber'.
Tip: 'det sitter' = there is (mounted); 'det står' = it says.
- 14
Vilka operatörer finns på min adress?
Which operators are available at my address?
Tip: Depends on the building's network.
- 15
Jag kollar adressen.
Let me check the address.
Tip: 'kolla' = check.
- 16
Du kan få 250 megabit för 349 i månaden.
You can get 250 megabits for 349 a month.
Tip: 'megabit' — per second is implied.
- 17
Är det någon bindningstid?
Is there a binding period?
Tip: Ask before you say yes.
- 18
Ingen bindningstid, en månads uppsägningstid.
No binding period, one month's notice.
Tip: 'en månads' — genitive s.
- 19
Ingår det en router?
Do I get a router included?
Tip: 'ingå' again.
- 20
Den skickas med posten inom tre vardagar.
It's sent by post within three working days.
Tip: Passive 'skickas'.
- 21
När kopplas det på?
When will it be switched on?
Tip: 'koppla på' = switch on/connect.
- 22
Samma dag som routern kommer, oftast.
The same day the router arrives, usually.
Tip: 'oftast' = usually.
- 23
Internet har slutat fungera.
The internet has stopped working.
Tip: 'sluta fungera' = stop working.
- 24
Har du provat att starta om routern?
Have you tried restarting the router?
Tip: 'starta om' = restart. Always the first question.
- 25
Ja, två gånger.
Yes, twice.
Tip: 'gånger' = times.
- 26
Vilka lampor lyser?
Which lights are on?
Tip: 'lysa' = be lit.
- 27
Strömlampan är grön, internetlampan är röd.
The power light is green, the internet light is red.
Tip: 'ström' = power.
- 28
Det är en driftstörning i ditt område — det ska vara igång inom en timme.
There's an outage in your area — it should be back within an hour.
Tip: 'vara igång' = be up and running.
- 29
Får jag kompensation för avbrottet?
Do I get compensation for the downtime?
Tip: Worth asking; sometimes yes.
- 30
Nu funkar det igen.
It's working again.
Tip: 'funka' = work (informal).