Mobile data and connectivity
To have internet as soon as you arrive in Latvia, the easiest option is a prepaid card (rechargeable). You don't need a contract or documents (passport/bulletin) to buy them; they can be found at any supermarket (Rimi, Maxima) or gas stations (Circle K).
How prepaid cards work (Prepaid Cards)
The Latvian system is extremely simple and completely digitalized:
- Initial purchase: A Starter Kit (Sākuma komplekts) costs between 1.50 EUR and 5.00 EUR and comes with credit included or an active internet package and minutes valid for 7 days.
- Validity: Unlike other EU countries, in Latvia it is not necessary to register the card with your passport. You buy it, insert it into your phone and it works instantly.
- Zelta Zivtiņa (Tele2): It is the most used brand by international students. They offer special packages called "ZZ Visi" or unlimited internet options for 1-7 days for a few euros. Their mobile app is very easy to use in English.
- LMT Karte: Comes with the option "Nedēļa internetam" (Internet for a week) or long-term plans. The main advantage is the stability of the connection in basements or old university buildings.
- Recharge (Top-up): Can be done online on their websites, via mobile apps (using a bank card/Revolut) or by buying a recharge code (čeks) at any Narvesen store or supermarket.
Zelta Zivtiņa (ZZ) by Tele2
Tele2's animated brand is designed specifically for young people, offering a completely digital experience, without hassle and without long-term contracts.
"ZZ Visi" Packages and Internet Options
- ZZ Visi (All-in-One): These are complete tariff plans that combine mobile internet, minutes and national SMS. They are extremely cheap (starting at around 5–8 EUR per month) and offer enough data traffic for everyday use, social media and browsing.
- Short-Term Unlimited Internet: If you need to download large courses, stream or use your phone as a hotspot in the first few days until you install your in-room Wi-Fi, ZZ offers unlimited internet options for 1, 3 or 7 days. Prices are just a few euros (e.g. under 3–4 EUR for a week of unlimited data).
- EU Roaming: Standard ZZ packages also include a data allowance that you can use when traveling for the weekend to Lithuania or Estonia, at no extra cost.
ZZ Mobile App (in English)
- No language barriers: Unlike other public services or utilities in Latvia that may only be in Latvian or Russian, the ZZ app has native and full English support.
- Full control on the screen: You can see in real time how many GB you have left, when your current package expires and activate new options with a single tap.
- Instant top-up: You can directly connect your home bank card or Revolut / Wise account to the app for automatic or manual top-ups in less than 30 seconds.
LMT Karte by Latvijas Mobilais Telefons
LMT is the incumbent operator (former state monopoly) and has the densest infrastructure of telecommunications towers in the country. Although their cards are slightly more expensive than those from ZZ, they offer unmatched stability.
“Nedēļa internetam” (Internet for a week) option
- Maximum flexibility: This is the most popular prepaid package from LMT. For a very low fixed cost (usually around 2.50 – 3 EUR per week), you get high-speed internet with no traffic limit or very generous thresholds.
- How to activate: The package can be activated instantly via a simple SMS with a specific code (for example, by sending the text I to 1688) or directly from their mobile application.
- Long-term plans: If you don't want to activate the weekly package, LMT Karte offers 30-day plans that also include unlimited minutes to all networks in Latvia and the EU.
Strategic Advantage: Signal in old buildings and basements
- Thick brick walls: Large universities in Riga (such as the University of Latvia - LU, Riga Technical University - RTU or Stradiņš University - RSU) hold their courses in historical buildings with massive stone or brick walls.
- Superior signal penetration: Due to the low frequencies used and the density of antennas, LMT has the best indoor penetration in Latvia. Where other networks lose signal (in large amphitheaters, laboratories or libraries located in the basement), LMT Karte maintains a stable 4G/5G connection.
- Laptop Hotspot: If the university or dormitory Wi-Fi drops or is overloaded during the session, an LMT card is a lifesaver, allowing you to create a stable hotspot on your laptop directly from the amphitheater.
