An increasing number of Danes are abandoning their landline phones in favour of their mobile. Internet access is also widespread. Numbers published by Statistics Denmark show that in 2009 86% of all Danes had internet access at home, that 96% of Danish enterprises in Denmark have internet access, and 88 % have their own website. Read more about the Danish information society in Statistics Denmark´s booklet “Denmark in Figures 2010”.

For further information about Statistics Denmark visit: www.dst.dk.

Several companies in Denmark offer telephone, TV and Internet services at fairly reasonable prices by European standards. Most of the telecom companies offer high-speed internet connections and many of the companies offer package deals including a telephone line, internet connection and possibly cable TV in the same subscription.

In Denmark everyone over the age of 18 who has a TV,  computer or mobile phone with internet access are legally obliged to pay for a media licence. If you only have a radio, you will have to pay for a radio licence. You are required to register for a licence no later than 14 days after you have acquired an appliance.

One media licence includes all appliances in the households of married couples, couples living together, and children living at home with their parents.

You can read more about the media licence at: www.dr.dk. You can also register for the media licence on the website. However, the registration site is only available in Danish. To register, you can also call DR at +45 70 20 13 13.

If you want a Danish mobile number you can either sign up for a subscription or buy a prepaid package with a SIM card. A subscription includes a contract you have to sign, and often requires payment of a monthly fee. Depending on the deal, some subscription contracts require you to subscribe for a minimum period - usually six months. Note that in order to subscribe you will have to have a Danish CPR number. Read more about the CPR number under CPR number.

Most mobile operators offer a variety of deals, e.g. deals which work out cheapest if you make a lot of international calls, primarily communicate via SMS, make a lot of short calls, or have long conversations, etc. To find the best and cheapest deal, you must know how you will be using your phone. Make sure to compare different companies’ deals and rates before you sign up as a customer. If you cannot find information in English contact the companies and ask what deals they offer in relation to your usage.

With a prepaid package you pay up front for connection time and can replenish your calling credit whenever you want to. A prepaid calling service does not require you to sign a long-term contract or pay a monthly subscription fee; although an establishment fee may apply.

Many mobile telephony providers have an online service, where you may replenish your calling credit, using e.g. a Visa or a Dankort. Some companies also sell calling time in stores, kiosks and at newsagents, as well as in their own company stores. Note that you can only buy calling credit from the company, where you are registered as a customer.

You can get a prepaid calling plan from most mobile telephony companies, and some of the online mobile telephony companies only offer prepaid calling plans. Note that if you do not yet have a CPR number, a prepaid calling package is your only option if you want a Danish mobile phone number; subscription plans require you to have a CPR number.

You can sign up for a prepaid calling plan on the different companies’ websites or at their stores. Sometimes, you can also sign up for a prepaid calling plan, by buying a prepaid calling package at a supermarket or some kiosks.

Many mobile telephony providers offer “family packages”, with family-friendly offers. For instance these may allow family members to call each other for free. Note that companies often require that all the relevant family members sign up as, customers to make use of family benefits.

Many companies will offer you a cheaper cash price for a mobile phone if you sign up as a customer and for certain subscriptions. These subscription deals usually bind you for at least six months and require you to pay a monthly subscription. It can be a good idea to ask the company to specify how much you will end up paying for the phone, including the binding subscription fees. They are legally obliged to provide this information in adverts. You should also remember to make sure that the subscription deal´s calling rates and service harmonise with your mobile usage.

In order to use your foreign mobile phone in Denmark with a Danish SIM card, the telephone must not be SIM-locked. The phone must also be compatible with the GSM standard.

If you intend to use the SIM card issued by your foreign mobile provider your foreign mobile operator must have a roaming agreement.

Many Danes send short messages by SMS. For instance, numbers published by Statistics Denmark show that 6 452 000 000 text messages were sent in Denmark during the first six months of 2009. Read more about the Danish information society in Statistics Denmark´s booklet “Denmark in Figures 2010”.

Many of the companies which supply Telephone, TV and Internet services offer package deals if you subscribe to all services at their company.

Many companies that collect regular payments charge a fee from customers who do not pay via the electronic payment solution provided by Nets Betalingsservice. Read more about PBS Betalingsservice under Betalingsservice from Nets.

When calling from a foreign number to a Danish telephone number, you need to dial area code, 0045/+45 in front of the 8-digit Danish number, even when you are in Denmark.

Telephone boxes in public places accept coins or calling cards.

Calling cards are available at news agents, kiosks and post offices.
 

Local telephone directories are distributed to all households in Denmark. You can also look up telephone numbers on www.degulesider.dk, www.krak.dk or www.eniro.dk. Directory enquiries are also accessible by dialing 118, but please note that charges for calling 118 are much higher than normal call rates.

Relevant authority:

IT- og Telestyrelsen/ Ministry of Science Technology and Innovation.
Address: Holsteinsgade 63, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø.
Telephone number: +45 35 45 00 00
Website: www.itst.dk.

Statistics Denmark: www.dst.dk.