Mobile phone plans Switzerland: info for foreigners
Before moving to Switzerland, you should think about your mobile plan. We explain what you need to know about getting a mobile phone plan in Switzerland as a foreigner.
03.10.2023
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1. Mobile plans Switzerland: should I get a new Swiss phone plan, or stick with my foreign provider?
A mobile phone contract will be part of your cost of living in Switzerland. Before you move to Switzerland, think about whether you’ll continue to use your existing contract, or whether you’ll look for a new mobile plan.
Are you only moving to Switzerland to work for a few months? Then it may be easier if you simply continue using your current number.
In this case, take a close look at the terms of your contract. If you make a lot of calls to people in your home country, for example, high roaming charges can quickly mount up.
Option 1: keep your previous contract and get a prepaid Swiss phone plan.
If you keep your existing contract, you might want to downgrade it. To be able to make cheap mobile calls and surf the web in Switzerland, simply get a prepaid plan. This has several advantages:
It’s easy to set up.
There is no notice period.
It's flexible and can be used as required.
You can easily control costs.
EU roaming in Switzerland
Switzerland is not part of the EU. Therefore, EU roaming does not apply here. This means if you use your mobile phone with an EU contract in Switzerland, you’ll pay significantly more than in your home country.
Option 2: cancel your previous contract and sign up for a new Swiss phone plan.
If you plan to live in Switzerland long term, you can get a Swiss mobile plan. The mobile market is diverse considering the size of the country, and there are many providers to choose from. The network coverage is very good throughout the country.
Comparis’ mobile plan comparison tool allows you to find the provider that best fits your needs.
Special right of termination for old contracts
Before moving to Switzerland, check whether your internet or mobile service provider can also provide its services at your new home. If this is not the case, you may have a special right of termination.
It’s a good idea to check your contracts right away. However, if no special right of termination applies, you can still terminate your contract subject to the notice period.
2. Important criteria for choosing the right Swiss mobile plan
Before you commit to a mobile provider for a longer period of time, you should ask yourself a few questions:
How often do you use the internet when you’re out and about?
How long do you spend on phone calls per month?
Do you also need a landline number?
Do you want to surf the LTE or 5G network?
Should the mobile plan include low roaming fees?
Do you only need a plan, without a mobile phone?
Tip: in order to save on roaming charges when calling customers or relatives in other countries, you can, for example, use Whatsapp, Skype or WiFi calling to make calls via your home WiFi network. This way you won’t use roaming and only need an internet connection.
3. How do I get fast internet in Switzerland?
The internet speed in Switzerland is comparable to other EU countries. High-speed internet with speeds of up to 10,000 Mbps is possible, especially in urban areas.
If you want to get an internet contract, it can be worth opting for a combination of internet with a landline or TV.
How extensive are fibre-optic networks in Switzerland, and what coverage do they offer?
5G is already available in many large Swiss cities such as Zurich, Geneva and Bern. Click here for the network coverage of each of the three major Swiss mobile phone providers: Salt, Sunrise and Swisscom.
If you want a fast internet connection for your company or just for yourself at home, click here for an overview of the expansion of fibre-optic internet networks.
This article was first published on 21.04.2020
