Estonia

Basics[]

The country code for Estonia is +372. Mobile phone numbers have 8 digits usually starting from 5.

The country of Estonia has 3 network providers:

Telia (formerly EMT, owned by the Swedish Telia Group)
Elisa (owned by Finnish Elisa Oyj)
Tele2 (owned by Swedish Tele2 Group)

2G is on 900 and 1800 MHz, 3G is on 900 and 2100 MHz with good coverage, 4G/LTE has started with all providers on 800, 1800 and 2600 MHz (Bands 3, 7, 20) plus 2100 and 2300 MHz (Bands 1 and 30) on Tele2 all over the country and is generally available for prepaid. 5G has started to be available on some high-data postpaid plans from Telia since November 2020 and on Elisa since June 2022, but is not currently open for prepaid.

Prepaid SIM cards locally called Kõnekaart are available at newsstands, kiosks, Circle K and R-Kiosk convenience stores (including two at Tallinn Ferry Terminals A and D and one at Tallinn Airport), supermarkets, other outlets and the shops of the providers. No ID or registration is necessary. Like other Baltic states, Estonia offers relatively low prices for data compared to the rest of Europe. The average data usage of Estonian SIM cards was 34.2 GB per capita and month in 2021.

3G shutdown[]

In May 2021, Telia announced its intentions to switch off its 3G network by the end of 2023 in order to refarm more spectrum for 4G and 5G. In August 2022, Elisa and Tele2 also announced impending shutdowns of their 3G networks, though only Tele2 has given a definitive deadline of late-2025 in which it expects to complete its 3G switch off.

Top-ups[]

While being within the country, you can buy voucher codes at many outlets. But it's a different story from outside the country.

It's still a problem to recharge Estonian mobile numbers from abroad without having an Estonian bank account, even if SEPA top-ups from European bank accounts should theoretically work (see Telia below). There are no credit card payment options for Estonian SIM cards with most providers. The exception is with Super now accepting debit cards via it's app. Furthermore, there are no 3rd party dealers or agencies who recharge Estonian SIM cards online. So if you want to top-up an Estonian mobile number from other countries, take vouchers with you or find an Estonian friend, who will buy it for you while staying in the country.

EU roaming: no Roam like at home?[]

Estonia is part of the EU, where from June 2017 new international roaming rules are enforced based on the 'roam like at home' principle. However, some Estonian providers are mostly excluded because of very low domestic prices and will still apply some surcharges or only allow a portion of the domestic package to be used in EU roaming. EU roaming is mostly only accessible on a default per-MB rate or special add-on packages, with only one provider now offering it inclusive with FUP. For specifics about the new regulation check the European Union chapter and every provider below.

In light of very low domestic prices for data, EU roaming is charged relatively high. Some providers all charge 0.5c/MB equal to €5.20 per GB, which can be reasonable for low usage. If you will go to other EU countries after Estonia, look carefully to make sure that the SIM you select fits your usage patterns.

Roaming in the UK, due to Brexit, has ended since February 2021. Telia, Elisa and Tele2 now charge separate rates for data roaming in the UK, while calls and SMS roaming are surcharged on higher per-minute and per-SMS rates than under EU roaming regulations.

Telia (formerly called EMT) (Super, Simpel, Diil)[]

Telia has been rebranded from EMT in 2016. It's owned by the Swedish Telia Company and market leader in Estonia with a 42% share of the mobile market in 2016. Their 4G/LTE network covers most of the country already and is open for prepaid.

Availability[]

Their prepaid kit is available at Telia (formerly EMT and Elion) stores and in many of their outlets. Their three brands for prepaid kõnekaarts with voice and data are called Super, Simpel, and Diil. These three latter brands can also be purchased at R-Kiosk and Circle K convenience stores.

Note that for data usage, Diil SIMs function mostly the same as Simpel SIMs aside from not having the combo packages, so if you have purchased a Diil SIM, refer to the SImpel section for data package pricing. The differences between the two are mainly in voice call pricing, which are outside the scope of this wiki.

Top-up[]

There is no way to recharge on the Telia website using PayPal or credit card, and no 3rd party resellers. With a Super SIM, the Super app (see below) and website accept some international credit/debit cards for top-ups (you can try to add your card to the app and see if it accepts it; this was tested and worked with both credit and debit cards issued from the US).

Top-ups can be made at these places nationwide. Top-up voucher validity is limited.

The only method that Telia provides to top up your account from outside Estonia if the Super app does not accept your foreign card or if you have a Simpel/Diil SIM is SEPA bank transfer, which will usually be free of charge from bank accounts in the Eurozone.

Super[]

Telia sells its Super starter kit for €1, which includes €1 credit and 50MB data, which can be ordered online with payment by SEPA bank transfer and free delivery by normal post, for example to a hotel.

When you have installed the Super App, it is now possible to buy an eSim and install it on the phone immediately. It will only be active after a call is made while in Estonia.

The SIM card needs to be activated before use by making a phone call. The best way to achieve this, while leaving your €1 initial balance intact for a bundle purchase, is to install the Super iPhone or Android app, which will prompt you to make a free call to 7010 1104; this activates both the SIM card and the app. If you have an iPhone, be sure to turn off iMessage and FaceTime before inserting the SIM card. Given that these iOS services fail to activate without any credit, it can be assumed that Telia charges for the outgoing activation SMS, which would reduce your initial balance. Once you have activated the app, go to the Profile tab and add your e-mail address to receive 1GB of free data. Then you can buy one of the 30-day data bundles below. Without topping up, the SIM card for €1 can give you a total of 50 MB + 1 GB + 250 MB = 1.3 GB for 30 days.

You cannot top up until you activate the SIM card. The only way to top up remotely if the Super app does not support your bank card is by SEPA bank transfer, which can take more than a day, so it's impractical if you want to top up immediately after activation in order to buy a data bundle. You can top up by as little as €1 at small shops.

The daily cap is €1 for 200 MB; then the speed is reduced to 32 kbps. You can add the same packages shown below at data feature packs.

Bonus/data packages

The following packages can be activated on Super plans. All of them are valid for 30 days.

Domestic Calls	Texts	Data	EU cap	Price	Activation
50 calls	200	1 GB	1 GB	€5	Top up at least 5€
130 calls	500	5 GB	5 GB	€10	Top up at least 10€
none	none	1 GB	1 GB	€2	Super app or 1471#
		4 GB	4 GB	€5	Super app or 1474#
		12 GB	10 GB	€10	Super app or 14712#
		40 GB	17 GB	€18	Super app or 14740#
		200 GB	23 GB	€24	Super app or 147200#

Simpel and Diil[]

Starter kits of Simpel and Diil cost €2.95, includes €2.95 credit and 50 MB pre-loaded. Default data rate is €1 up to 200 MB per day. Beyond this, data is throttled to 64 Kbps down and 32 Kbps until midnight. The following packs can be added:

Combo packages (Kõnepakett)

These combo packages can be activated on Simpel plans. All of them are valid for 30 days.

Calls	Texts	Data	EU cap	Price	Activation
3000 min. (to Telia)	3000 (to Telia)	1 GB	1 GB	€4	5994#
unlimited (to Telia) 600 min. (other networks)	600 (all networks)	4 GB	4 GB	€9	5999#

Data feature packages[]

These monthly packets for 30 days can be activated on Simpel and Diil plans.

Data	EU cap (Simpel)	Price	Activation
250 MB	250 MB	€1	147250#
1 GB	1 GB	€2	1471#
3 GB	3 GB	€3.99	1473#
5 GB	4.6 GB	€5	1475#
10 GB	7.5 GB	€8	14710#

To check data consumption, dial *123#; check general account balance by dialling *143# (for a €0.06 fee).

Note that unlike Super, Simpel and Diil have a "minimum charge" of €1 per month. If you do not use at least that amount in paid services per month, you will still have that amount deducted regardless. This can be seen as a sort of inactivity fee.

EU roaming (charges apply)[]

Since 2019 Simpel and Diil charge the same amount for domestic and EU/EEA roaming usage (€0.0025/KB), and allow part of the data allowance from the data and combo packages to be used there without surcharges (see table above). Super has phased out the Super X plan, and now includes a roaming allowance on all of its data packages.

More information[]

APN: internet.emt.ee
Website (available in Russian, Estonian): https://www.telia.ee/era/koned/mobiiltelefoniga/konekaardid
Direct links in English to Simpel and Super brands

Elisa (Zen)[]

Elisa logo

Elisa, originally based in Finland, has a very good coverage similar to Telia. They have opened 4G/LTE on some prepaid plans for a surcharge. In 2016 they are the leaders by amount of prepaid users in the country.