Types of support tools and digital inclusion
The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority procures free telephony services for people with speech, voice, or language difficulties, as well as for people with hearing or visual impairments. There is also help to become more digital for those who are unsure about digital services. There are also other aids such as emergency alarms and how to make emergency calls.
Page summary
There are several different services and aids for people who have difficulty hearing, seeing, speaking, or using digital services. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority is responsible for ensuring that these services function and are accessible. There are special telephony services that help people make and receive calls, such as text telephony and video telephony. There are also services that assist with finding phone numbers and using digital tools, like Digital Help. In 2025, new laws will make it easier for more people to use digital services and products, for example in banking, commerce, and travel. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority ensures that these laws are followed.
For those with hearing impairment, there is Texttelefoni
Texttelefoni is an additional service that mediates calls between text phones and voice phones. The service can also be accessed via computer, tablet, or smartphones. The calls are mediated verbatim and neutrally. The service is always open, that is, around the clock and all year round. You can read more on the service’s website.
For those who communicate with sign language, there is Bildtelefoni
Bildtelefoni mediates calls between sign language and speech. The service is open around the clock. You can read more on the service’s website.
For those who need interpreter assistance, there is Teletal
Teletal functions as a three-party call where an interpreter helps to interpret speech, clarify, provide memory support, or take notes during the call.
Anyone who needs help can use Teletal, and the service can, for example, be used by people who have speech difficulties or have difficulty reading and writing.
You can read more on the service’s website. There you will also find the service’s opening hours.
If you have a visual impairment, there is a free directory service with number 118 400
The free directory service is a service that can be used by people who are blind, visually impaired, or have difficulty finding information about phone numbers themselves. To access the service, you must apply.
The service is open around the clock, for more information see the service’s website.
Are you unsure about digital services, there is Digitalhjälpen
The Post and Telecom Authority has launched a service for those who are unsure about the digital society. Here you will find a lot of practical help that makes digital life easier. You can get tips on digital services, develop your digital skills, and access practical guides for digital services.
Here you get help with things like how to:
- Socialize digitally
- Shop and pay digitally
- Identify yourself digitally
- Tips on technical help
- Knowledge and inspiration
- Courses and training
- Get started with video calls
- Remote help with remote control
- Shop for food and medicine online
Do you have a Security and/or home alarm?
A security alarm is a service for people who need to contact staff for immediate help or care at home.
A security alarm is obtained through a special assistance decision from the municipality. There are different types of security alarms, and the alarms can function slightly differently. It is the municipality that chooses which alarm they offer. Contact your municipality for more information.
If you have a security alarm or home alarm connected to your landline and plan to switch to IP-based telephony or mobile home telephony, you should check if the security alarm or home alarm works with the operator’s telephony service. Contact both your operator and the alarm provider for complete information.
If you need emergency help, make an Emergency call
An emergency call is a call to an emergency number (in Sweden 112) made when an acute emergency, such as an ongoing crime, fire, or accident, has occurred. The call goes to a central that then, if necessary, alerts authorities such as ambulance, fire department, or police.
Your operator is obliged to ensure that you can make emergency calls. However, note that with so-called internet telephony, you cannot always make emergency calls.
If the emergency call is made from a mobile phone, positioning information for the phone is forwarded. However, the information is not exact and can differ by several kilometers depending on which mast the mobile connects to. If you have portable IP telephony (so-called nomadic), the emergency center may in some cases not see where you are geographically. If you are in an emergency, it is therefore important that you state where you are.
The Accessibility Directive makes it easier for you with functional variations to access goods and services in the telecom area
In 2025, a new law on accessibility for certain products and services’ accessibility came into force. It is part of the EU’s Accessibility Directive introduced in Sweden and applied in all EU member states from June 28, 2025. The law imposes accessibility requirements on a number of products and services aimed at consumers in the areas of electronic communication, banking and payment services, e-commerce, e-books, audiovisual media (TV), and passenger transport.