Communications

Telephone

Country Code: +47. Numbers starting with 800 are usually toll-free while those beginning with 9 are mobile numbers. The international access code is 00. International calls are often prohibitively expensive, so ask for Telekort (Telenor phonecards) when visiting post offices and Narvesen kiosks. Unfortunately, Telekort cards can be hard to find, so it's often easier to use a prepaid card bought from a private company who issue you with a PIN and a local access number. If you have a laptop with you, Skype is by far the cheapest way to make international calls, and it can also be found at the occasional internet cafe.

Mobile Telephone

Roaming agreements exist with many international mobile phone companies. Mobile phones cannot be hired. Coverage is mostly good, but may be patchy in mountainous areas.

Internet

There are many internet cafés throughout Norway and you can also access the Internet via public libraries, often free of charge. Wi-Fi is widespread.

Media

Norway's public broadcaster NRK has had competition from private local and national stations since the heady days of monopoly. Press freedom is guaranteed by the constitution and public radio and TV broadcast without interference from the government.

Post

Hotel receptions, shops and kiosks selling postcards will sell stamps. Airmail within Europe takes two to four days.These vary from place to place but are generally Mon-Fri 0830-1600 and Sat 0800-1300.

Press

The most respected daily papers are Aftenposten (www.aftenposten.no) and Dagbladet (www.dagbladet.no). The main English language paper is The Norway Post (www.norwaypost.no) and the international editions of most major international newspapers (including the International Herald Tribune and the Times) are freely available.