Using phones and the Internet in Greece

The telecommunications landscape in Greece

Greece is well developed when it comes to phones and internet services. Thus if you're an expat wanting to live in Greece, then you do not have to worry about mobile coverage or access to the internet. That being said, in spite of the recent investment, Greece still has some of the slowest internet speeds in Europe. For example, in terms of internet speeds, Greece comes in at 20^th place out of 117 countries, with an average speed of 97.5mbps a second, while internet speeds in Greek homes average about 40 Mbps a second, which ranks Greece even further down the list.

The problems of these slow speeds can be fixed in the way you choose your internet. The choices you have are between ADSL, VDSL and fibreoptic, which are the most typical internet connections you will find in Greece. As was earlier alluded to, Internet speeds have been an issue for some time, but since the beginning of the year, VDSL vectoring technology has come into play, which means significantly faster download speeds. Similarly, Cosmote, Vodafone, and Nova now offer fibreoptic internet with download speeds ranging from 100 Mbps to 1 Gbps. Fibre optic internet guarantees high upload and download speeds, low latency, and is reliable.

This development also makes it easier for you to use services such as Zoom, Google Meet, or Facebook calls, which are all integral for remote work, which has exploded recently in Greece. Finally, the European Union has now capped roaming fees within the area, meaning you can use your European sim card if you are in Greece for a short time.

Finding the right mobile or internet package in Greece

It's interesting to note that, nowadays, all major telecom players in Greece offer a bit of everything: landline, mobile, internet, and some even TV services. Of course, some companies are more geared towards home solutions, while others have more enticing packages for mobile and prepaid, but overall the same process applies for everything -- and most providers will give you a better deal if you sign to do all three with them.

Internet

Cosmote, formerly OTE (the country's incumbent telco), remains the main service provider despite fierce market competition. If you wish to obtain a decent Internet connection, Cosmote is always a good start, since apart from its appealing packages and the fact that it has the best coverage signal-wide across the country, they're also able to give discounts to family members.

Some other Greek service providers are the following:

• Nova Mobile, which used to be Wind before the company was bought out. Nova also offers very good TV packages
• Vodafone

Mobile networks

For mobile phones, all providers have a broad palette of packages based on whether you intend to consume more data services or texts and call services. A good idea would be to visit any of the companies' stores before you decide or visit their websites, as most are in English, and some even provide the option to chat with customer support on the spot. Furthermore, you may choose either a contract with monthly billing or a prepaid account which you can recharge according to your consumption. As mentioned, there are three options on the market: Cosmote, Vodafone, or Nova. Regarding prices, they are all quite similar, as you can see below:

Network provider	Features, capabilities	Price
Cosmote	Texts, calls, data, 5G yes	At the cheapest, 12.90 euros Most expensive from 18.90 euros
Vodafone	Texts, calls, data, 5G yes	At the cheapest, 13.50 euros Most expensive, 33.42 euros
Nova	Texts, calls, data, 5G yes	At the cheapest from 15 euros Most expensive from 33 euros

Price comparison as of March 2023

International students in Greece are eligible for discounts on mobile packages, and two of the best on offer are Cosmote's Whatsup student package (not to be confused with Whatsapp), and Vodafone's CU Student package. Both offer reasonably cheap data, messaging, calls and discounts for food, beverages and leisure. Cosmote's Whatsup package is particularly good in the sense that you get an extra 5GB of data daily when you are on campus (which is detected through location). Price-wise, both packages start at 8 euros and can rise to 20 euros with add-ons.

Setting up your connections in Greece

Most landlines are connected with a router to provide an internet connection, and they're usually non-transferable from person to person (people will either disconnect them when they move out or move them to their next place). In case the set-up is already there from the previous owner, do check the package they were in first before you commit to keeping using it. The odds are you'll be able to find something way more affordable, as companies offer new packages and discounts on a regular basis. Otherwise, you can transfer the line to another provider, which usually takes about three weeks, or apply for a new connection.

Documents required to set up a connection

To apply, you'll need to have a passport or an identity card, some proof of address (lease document or utility bill) and a contact number so that the technician can call you on the installation or reactivation day, and most cases, you'll also need to provide a Greek residence permit. Keep in mind that many houses in Greece are quite old, so sometimes the phone cables might need to be replaced, especially if you're also installing internet. In that case, the technician will inform you that they cannot complete the task and that an electrician needs to fix the cabling first, but it's your responsibility to call and pay the electrician to do this.

If you're moving houses and want to transfer your existing connection to your new address, keep in mind that you'll have to pay a relocation fee of about 30 euros (depending on the provider), whereas if you wish to switch providers or terminate your contract with a provider before it is due, then you may need to pay anything from 70-100euros.

Bills for telecoms and mobile phones are sent monthly, and lately, most subscribers opt to receive them via e-mail and pay them online via the provider's website or their internet banking.

Does Greece have 5g capabilities?

Greece has started to roll out 5G networks across the country. In areas such as Athens, the coverage is great, and the network is gradually being expanded to cover other regions, remote rural areas, and the islands.

You can expect 5G network services on all the major mobile operators such as Cosmote, Vodafone nd Nova, and they are available across the country and, of course, in Athens and Thessaloniki.

What are the benefits of 5G?

5G brings with it faster upload and download speeds, lower latency levels, improved functionality with a higher network capacity, and the possibility of virtual and augmented reality and autonomous travel.

Not only Mobile networks but companies are also investing in infrastructure to improve 5G and telecommunications in Greece. The government of Greece has pushed funding into a scheme heavily using 5G in applications and software in the healthcare, transportation and tourism industries.

Posting letters and packages in Greece

For those who favor the analog art of sending paper mail, Greece's post offices are open from 8 am to 1:30 am. However, since they offer various services (from paying bills and wiring money to sending packages and letters), they're usually very crowded, and, as they are understaffed, the waiting time can sometimes be significant. Therefore, a good rule of thumb is to use the mailboxes outside post offices for only 'unimportant' mail like postcards, etc., and for everything else to pay to have it delivered to the person directly through systimeno, συστημένο (meaning registered). This option is not that expensive and guarantees that your letter will arrive at some point. All post services are fulfilled by Hellenic Post and its subsidiary ELTA couriers.

If you want to send a package, you need to check beforehand whether a particular post office handles packages or not because not all of them do. Also, if you're sending a package, you need to bring it unwrapped first so that it can be inspected and weighed, and then you have to package it — most post offices can provide brown wrapping paper or boxes. In addition, Greece has a courier service ACS, but it is plagued by late deliveries and lost parcels. Deliveries usually end up at the ACS office rather than delivered to your own home, where you can be hours in line to even collect a package. Thus, it is always recommended to try and go through ELTA if possible.

Useful links:

ELTA

Cosmote

Nova

Vodafone