Affordable communication and internet: mobile tariffs, eSIM, Wi-Fi and roaming in Norway (2025 guide)

We all know how expensive Norway can be, right? And it's something we often hear when we're talking about mobile communications and home internet. But in 2025, rates fell, and competition led to the wonderful news that unlimited 5G was available for just 379 kroner and eSIM starters for the price of a cup of coffee! I've put together a list of 10 handy questions below to help you choose an operator, get internet in rural areas and avoid paying hundreds of kroner for roaming.

Which mobile operators are the cheapest and how can I compare them?

The 'big three' are Telenor, Telia, and Ice. Ice is the leader in budget packages: Hey, I totally get it, 10 GB LTE/5G for 199 kr/month is a lot to take on, so I'm really happy to tell you that there's a '3 months – 50%' promotion going on right now which will bring the price down to just 99 kr! Hey, I just wanted to let you know about a really great deal from Telia MVNO Chilimobil. For just 379 kr a month, you can get unlimited 5G with a speed of 1 Gbps, and there's no throttling either. The only thing to keep in mind is that there's a 40 GB fair use limit within the EEA, but it's still a fantastic offer! Hey, just so you know, Telenor is going up against 'Yng' — which gives you 15 GB and some cool speed-boost features — and Disney+, which is going for 299 kr for those of you under 29. Hey, just a heads-up: the lovely people over at Nkom.no have announced that they'll be sharing 5G maps as early as 2025 – isn't that amazing?! Telenor covers 92% of the population, and Ice covers 80%.

How much does an eSIM starter pack cost and how can tourists activate it?

The Airalo app is offering the 'Fjorden 5 GB/30 days' for just 10 USD (≈ 110 kr). If you're at OSL airport, you'll be pleased to know that Telia machines offer an eSIM 'Norge 5 GB/14 days' for just 199 kr! You won't need to worry about setting up an online BankID either, as a passport is all you need. Hey, I totally get it, we all want to save a little money where we can. In that case, I'd say the cheapest option is NiceMobil eSIM (it's a subsidiary of Telia). Hey, just so you know, the offer is 1 GB/7 days for 39 kr. You can register while you're still abroad, and all you need is a selfie with your passport. Hey, just to let you know, you'll receive a QR code via email. It's super easy to activate – it only takes two minutes! And don't worry about running out of data, because once you've used up your allowance, your speed will still be there at 64 kbps, with no extra charges to worry about.

Home internet: how much do fibre and a 4G router cost?

Hey, I just wanted to let you know about this awesome deal on Altibox fiber 500 Mbps. For just 649 kr a month, you get to enjoy super-fast Wi-Fi-6 router included! Hey, I just wanted to let you know about a great deal I found for Telia Fiber in Oslo. For the first 12 months, you can get 250 Mbps for just 379 kr/month – that's an awesome deal, right? Hey, I just wanted to let you know about this awesome deal on the Ice Bredbånd 5G Fri 4G/5G home router. For just 499 kr a month, you can enjoy unlimited data, and the speed is super reliable, ranging from 100 to 200 Mbps. Plus, you'll have a strong signal, so you can stay connected no matter where you are. Hey, I've got an awesome life hack for you! If you're living in a housing cooperative (borettslag), why not take a look at your collective agreement? You might be pleasantly surprised to find that the fee could be as low as 79 kr/month, already included in the felleskost.

And how can you get free Wi-Fi in the city?

Hey, just so you know, Deichman libraries (Oslo), Bergen Offentlige and all Narvesen offer free Wi-Fi that you can use for as long as you like! The Oslo municipality has gone above and beyond by installing #Oslo Wi-Fi hotspots at 90 tram stops, with an average speed of 45 Mbps. You don't need a password, but you'll need to refresh the ad every 2 hours. On Vy trains, you get 20 GB/device/day, then 128 kbps. Don't worry, your phone will automatically switch to Wi-Fi Calling to help you save mobile data.

Roaming: is it really free in Europe?

Oh, yes! Hey, just so you know, when you're in the EEA with a Norwegian SIM or eSIM card, you'll have the awesome 'Roam Like Home' option for calls, SMS and data. This means you'll be charged the same rate as at home or you'll be limited to your fair use data, whatever works best for you! If you're outside the EEA (that's Switzerland and the UK), you'll be charged 1.99 kr/MB with Ice and 0.99 kr/MB with Chilimobil. And for those of you looking to save a little extra, why not try out a local eSIM from Airalo or SIM2Fly? You'll get a whopping 6 GB of data in Asia for just 299 kr!

How to avoid ‘sudden’ additional charges for traffic?

Don't worry, Ice and Chilimobil won't charge you more — they just reduce the speed to 128 kbps. Hey, just so you know, Telenor and Telia automatically add Ekstra Data 1 GB/49 kr. Hey, no worries at all! You can easily disable this in the Data-kontroll app. Hey, just a friendly reminder for all you Apple Watch LTE fans: don't forget to switch off Wi-Fi Assist. Otherwise, your watch might use up to 500 MB per day, which we wouldn't want to happen!

I know how important it is to save money when you're a student, so I'd love to know which option would be better for you: student discounts or family plans?

Hey, I just wanted to let you know about this awesome deal from Telia: for just 299 kr, you can get 15 GB of data and unlimited music! Hey, I just wanted to let you know about this awesome deal on the Ice Stud 12 GB for only 229 kr! And here's the best part: there's no roaming limit, so you can stay connected no matter where you are. Hey, I just wanted to let you know about this awesome deal from Telenor's Ung Fler family plan. You get a whopping 3 GB of data and 5 GB of talk time for just 429 kr! And if you happen to miss any calls, no worries, they're all part of the total package. Plus, it's super affordable, with just 99 kr for each extra device. Hey, if you've got a family with more than one SIM card, I'd totally recommend checking out the Chilimobil unlimited 379 kr plan. It's got one phone and Wi-Fi sharing, so it's super handy for keeping everyone connected!

Network priority: will the link load in the mountains?

Telenor owns most of the base stations in Fjäll, and they're focusing on 802.11 Band 20 (800 MHz). Ice leases them, so they have 'coverage plus' SIM cards — they switch to Telia when there is no signal. If you're planning a trip to the beautiful Lofoten Mountains, I would highly recommend choosing Telenor or Ice over Chilimobil (only Telia Net), as they're both fantastic options!

I was wondering if it would be possible to share 5G as home internet in a cabin?

Absolutely! Ice and Telia are both great options for unlimited tethering, and Telenor 'Yng' gives you 5 GB/day. Hey, so I've been looking into this 5G router, the ZTE MC888, and it's going for 2,590 kr. If you pop a Chilimobil unlimited SIM in, you're looking at 379 kr a month. The speeds are super impressive, too, ranging from 150 to 200 Mbps. And the best part? It's cheaper and faster than Starlink satellite, which is 899 kr a month plus 3,499 kr for the equipment.

How to reduce costs during a long stay without losing your number?

Chilimobil 'Pause' is just the ticket for you! For just 29 kr/month, you can keep your number, receive incoming SMS messages and make outgoing calls at a rate of 0.89 kr/MB. Hey there, expats! 🌟 If you're spending the winter abroad, this is the perfect choice for you! Hey, just so you know, Telenor's 'Frys' offer gives you a discount of 49 kr/month and keeps your number for 12 months. Here's a little life hack for you: when you're about to go on holiday outside the EEA, just switch to Pause and pop in a local eSIM.

It's so great to see that communication and the internet in Norway are now so accessible to all. I'm so excited to tell you that in 2025, you'll be able to enjoy unlimited 5G for just 379 kroner, an eSIM starter pack for 39 kroner, free roaming in Europe and affordable home internet from 79 kroner in a cooperative. Hey, have you ever thought about how great it would be if we had free Wi-Fi in libraries and tram stops? And what if there were student and family discounts too? Even in an Arctic hut, you'd have fast internet for the price of a latte! Hey, why not plan ahead? You could turn off auto-top-up and choose the right network for your route. Then you could use your krone to treat yourself to a lovely fjord cruise instead of paying for your mobile phone bill.