Despite the entry into the Eurozone and the general rise in prices, Latvian telecom operators were able to maintain acceptable tariffs for services. For this reason, it is more profitable to use local SIM-cards, the Internet and landline telephony than to pay for roaming from a foreign provider. When traveling to this Baltic country, learn in advance how to call Latvia and how to make calls home from its territory.
Mobile communication in the territory of Latvia
Communication via a mobile device is available anywhere in the republic. The coverage area of each of the operating companies covers the whole of Latvia. At the same time, the signal quality remains at a high level regardless of the region. Companies offer both contract rates and prepaid cards.
Modern mobile communication in Latvia provides all types of popular services and services:
- transfer of SMS and MMS;
- mobile internet and wireless access to Wi-Fi;
- email;
- GPRS data transmission;
- WAP;
- television and video calls.
At the same time, all incoming calls, regardless of the operator and tariff, will be free for you. You will always be available to talk to your relatives and friends.
If you are interested in cellular communication in Latvia for tourists, pay attention to prepaid cards, the purchase of which is possible without presenting a passport.
There are several categories of telephone numbers in the country. You can determine the category of a Latvian number by the number it begins with:
- 2 - mobile SIM cards;
- 6 - stationary;
- 8 - free;
- 9 - increased rate numbers.
The existing mobile TV networks in Latvia are divided into two categories: standard and virtual. The latter use the infrastructure of other companies to provide services.
How to choose a mobile operator in Latvia
In the territory of the republic in 2021 there are such major mobile communication companies.
| Company | Starter package cost (prepaid card) | Call rates (minute) | Mobile Internet (day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| TELE2 | Zelta Zivtina - 1.49 € | calls within the network and in most Latvian companies - 0.17 €; calls to the CIS and the Russian Federation - 0.5635 €; calls to European countries - 0.4937 €; SMS - 0.06 / 0.13 € (depends on the company). | 0, 36 € |
| LMT | O'Karte - 1 € | calls (regardless of the company) - 0.1096 €; On-net SMS - 0.0213 €; SMS to other companies - 0.0571 €; MMS - 0.0400 €; change of tariff plan - 0.71 €. | 0.3557 |
| BITE | BiFri and Toxic - 1, 42 € | calls within the network are free; calls to local companies - 0.09 €; calls to the CIS and the Russian Federation - 0.47 €; calls to European countries - 0.44 €; On-net SMS - 0.01 €; SMS to other companies - 0.06 €. | 0, 44 € |
In addition, virtual mobile operators in Latvia offer services to everyone.
Services of virtual mobile communication companies in Latvia:
| Firm | Starter package cost (prepaid card) | Call rates (minute) | Mobile Internet (day) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amigo (runs on the LMT network) | 1, 49 € | 2 € - minimum subscription fee per month; Amigo 0.2300 €; for LMT, Tele2, Bite, Lattelecom - 0.2300 €; fixed local - 0.2300 €; Telekom in the Baltics - 0.2300 €; services 78XX XXXX (payphones, etc.) - 0.2300 €; SMS to Amigo, LMT Karte, LMT 0,0700 €; SMS to Tele2 and Bite - 0.0700 €; SMS to Telekom Baltija 0.0700 €; SMS abroad - 0.0700 €; MMS message - 0.0900 €. | 0, 50 € |
| IZZI (acquired by Baltcom) | 1, 43 € | 0, 16 € flat rate per minute; SMS to IZZI - 0.01 €; SMS to other operators - 0, 07 €. | - |
The choice of a particular operator depends on the tariff you are interested in and the desired set of features.
How to call the CIS countries and the Russian Federation from Latvia
Dialing a Latvian number from a foreign SIM card is carried out as follows:
- +371 (designation of the state) - organization code - personal number (for subscribers of the cellular network);
- +371 (state code) - city code - personal number (for stationary telephone subscribers).
Those wishing to call Riga from Moscow or another Russian city from a stationary phone should dial:
- 8 - dial tone - 10 (the international access code depends on the specific operator) - 371 - local operator (or city) code - subscriber number.
Local dialing rules vary depending on the country from which the call is made.
What to dial and how to call to Latvia on a mobile / landline phone from the CIS:
| State | Dialing rules for Latvian numbers |
|---|---|
| Azerbaijan, Armenia, Moldova, Kazakhstan, Ukraine | from mobile: +371 [city code | operator code] [phone number]; from landline: 00 371 [area code | operator code] [phone number]. |
| Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan | from mobile: +371 [city code | operator code] [phone number]; from landline: 810 371 [area code | operator code] [phone number]. |
To call a foreign number from Latvia, you need to dial the following combination:
- from a cellular device: [designation of the state] [operator / city code] [phone number];
- from a fixed (stationary) device: 00 [designation of the state] [operator / city code] [phone number].
The number of payphones in the republic is decreasing. You can still use their services in large cities, but gradually they will all be dismantled. Many devices are already deprived of regular maintenance. So you shouldn't count on them and it's better to get a SIM card.
What do Latvian phone numbers consist of?
Telephone numbers of local telecom operators contain the designation of the mobile provider or city. After examining the number, you can find out where your call goes and how much it costs to call Latvia in this particular case.
Designations of some Latvian cities:
| Town | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Riga | 67 |
| Jurmala | 66 |
| Rezekne | 646 |
| Liepaja | 684, 634 |
| Jelgava | 686, 630 |
| Daugavpils | 658, 654 |
| Braslava | 640 |
| Lode | 641 |
It is especially important to know the code of the cellular company in order to take advantage of the preferential service for calls and sending messages within the network.
Telephone codes of Latvian mobile operators:
| Firm | Symbol |
|---|---|
| Amigo | 224, 2556-2559, 2849, 287. |
| IZZI | 2209, 2239, 2728, 2729, 273. |
| TELE 2 | 2230-2238, 259-271, 282, 2844-2848, 288, 295-299. |
| LMT | 201-204, 2200-2204, 24, 261-266, 278, 283, 286, 291-294, |
| BITE | 2205, 2206, 221, 2550-2555, 2585-2588, 274, 275, 2760-2764. |
Features of the provision of Internet services in Latvia
Mobile, landline and wireless networks are available throughout Latvia. Customers are offered various packages and tariffication options: unlimited, by traffic, Internet in Latvia with a subscription fee and traffic restrictions.
Mobile Latvian Internet
The services of local cellular providers for providing access to the global network are much more profitable than using roaming, including from such popular Russian companies as MegaFon, MTS and Beeline.
Modern mobile Internet in the territory of Latvia is represented by two types of signals:
- 3G - coverage throughout the country;
- 4G - coverage in major cities and tourist centers.
Tourists are offered mobile Internet in Latvia using prepaid cards with a package of access to the global network without presenting a passport. Such starter kits can be bought cheaply in large supermarkets, kiosks, train stations and communication stores.
Mobile internet tariffs in Latvia:
| Firm | Pricing |
|---|---|
| TELE 2 ("New SIM-card" package) | day, up to 30 MB - € 0.36; over the limit - 0.07 € per 1 MB. |
| BITE (starter package) | day, up to 20 MB - 0.44 €; week, up to 100 MB - 1.42 €; month, up to 500 MB - 4.27 €. |
| LMT (O'Karte package) | day, up to 100 MB - 0.36 €; week, up to 1 GB + unlimited SMS - 1.42 €; per megabit billing, 1 MB for 0.71 €. |
Choosing a suitable package with the Internet for a phone in Riga or another Latvian city, you get the opportunity to make Skype calls and communicate in messengers, which significantly reduces the cost of communication abroad.
Home Internet Access Point Connection Service
Connecting a fixed access point to the global network will be of interest to those who plan to stay in the Baltic state for a long time. Average data transfer rate in the country: 10-400 Mb / s. That being said, most providers offer free wireless Wi-Fi around the house.
Of the tariffs, the following are the most interesting:
- Lattelecom - from 17.5 € per month;
- Lmt - from 15.95 € per month.
In addition, there are complex packages from Baltcom: home Internet + TV + fixed telephony. Connect them if you want to be able to call to Latvia from Belarus and other countries to a stationary device.
Where can I find Wi-Fi
If you find yourself in a difficult situation, take advantage of free access to the global network via Wi-Fi in the following places:
- a cafe;
- large shopping centers;
- parks;
- train stations;
- libraries and educational institutions.
A special sign informs about the availability of free access. The largest wireless Internet access network in the country belongs to Lattelecom. The easiest way to find free internet is in Riga, Jurmala, Liepaja and other large cities.
Connection to paid Wi-Fi is carried out through special cards or SMS-messages to short numbers.
Summarizing
No matter how long you are going to stay in Latvia, local cellular communication and access to the global network will be much more profitable than paying for services in roaming.
To buy a prepaid card for several days, you do not need to present documents. SIM cards of Latvia with access to the global network and a package of free SMS are very convenient.
Those who plan to stay in the state for a long time are advised to connect their home Internet and city fixed devices.
In an emergency, you can use the free wired networks in public areas to communicate.
To make a call to Latvia, you need to know not only the subscriber's telephone number, but also the symbol of the city (for fixed telephones) or the digital designation of the operator (for mobile SIM cards). For example, the Riga code is required to dial any landline phone number in the capital.
