Internet use is more advanced in Sweden than in the rest of Europe according a recent IDC report that says that approximately 40 percent of all Swedes have access to, and use, the World Wide Web. No other European country has such high percentage. In addition, Sweden is rapidly becoming the world leader in computers per household. By December 1999, at least one of every two households is projected to have an advanced personal computer, with most linked to the Internet. 

Statistics 

According to an International Data Corporation (IDC) report from January 1998, there are approximately 1.32 million people accessing the Internet in Sweden.  IDC estimates that the total number of Internet users will increase to 1.62 million by the end of 1998 and 2.95 million by 2001. (Source: Headcount/IDC) 

World Wide Web users (i.e. those users who use the WWW as opposed to other forms and methods of Internet use) totaled 1.03 million at the end of 1997 and are expected to grow to 2.86 million by 2001. 

 Internet Use Statistics 
 

Number of people using the Internet regularly	1.32 million
Number of people using the web once a month	1.9  million
% of all users who have access from work	20%
% of all users accessing the Internet at least once a day	9%
% of Swedish Internet users who are female	35%

 

European Hostcount estimates the number of Internet host machines in Sweden for November 1998 using the following methodology: 

Number of machines counted: 429,093 
Number of potential duplicate machines: 26,798 
Number of "REAL" machines (Counted less duplicate machines): 402,295 
Number of new machines since October: + 6,051 
(Source: European Hostcount) 

Domain Names 

Swedish domain names are designated with the national top level domain name ".se" and are controlled by the Network Information Centre Sweden (NIC-SE) AB. NIC-SE will only register domain names for organizations that have permanent operation in Sweden. Applications for a domain name can be made through one of NIC-SE's certified registrars.  Click here to view the list  NIC-SE . 

Major Internet Companies and Internet Service Providers 
 
 The five largest Internet providers that providing service within Sweden are listed below with the country codes for other countries serviced.    

Relative Costs 

Costs in Sweden for Internet connectivity are dropping rapidly as competition increases and the Internet gains accceptance in all aspects of daily life.  According to the British telephone supervisory authority, Oftel, costs for business telephony, ISDN, mobile telephony, calling cards and international telephony in Sweden are among the lowest in the world. (Source: ITA)