Comparing internet and TV plans in Switzerland

Most providers offer a choice of internet plans with different speeds – from 10Mbps to 1,000Mbps. Which speed is best for you depends on a range of factors:

• Number of simultaneous users in your household

• Type of internet usage

• Distance between the modem and the devices

As a rule, the following internet speeds are recommended:

• 20–50Mbps: “normal” web browsing, standard-quality streaming (Netflix, TV streaming websites etc.), sending and receiving emails

• 50–100Mbps: larger distances between modem and devices, use of repeaters, multiple simultaneous users

• 100–1,000Mbps: multiple users simultaneously performing data-intensive activities such as video calls, high-quality streaming (e.g. UHD resolution), online gaming

You pay a monthly fee for an internet plan. You may also be charged a connection fee or administrative fees for services such as paper billing, or you may have to pay for devices such as the router.

Sometimes, triple-play deals that include internet, TV and landline are only slightly more expensive than internet-only deals. If you occasionally watch conventional TV and use the landline to make calls, this sort of deal could be right for you.

Most providers specify an upload and download speed in their deals. However, the download speed is usually much higher than the upload speed.

For most people, the download speed is also the most relevant, because it is important for services such as TV streaming. But if you frequently need to upload large amounts of data, you should find out from the internet provider what the “actual” upload speed is. You need a high upload speed to perform tasks like sending large video files or uploading them to servers.

Some deals also include streaming services such as Apple TV and Netflix. Sport fans can also check whether subscription channels like Mysports or Sky Sports are included. Consider carefully whether the deal is actually the best one for you. It may be more cost-effective to purchase the streaming service yourself and then opt for a much less expensive internet plan.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) is a family of technologies used to transmit data and includes ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line). ADSL uses a traditional telephone line. As the name suggests, ADSL has different upload and download speeds. The speed depends on the distance between your home and the local telephone exchange.

A broadband internet connection provides high-speed internet access. It can be based on DSL or fibre optic technology.

Swisscom and local network operators are responsible for expanding the fibre optic network. To find out whether a fibre optic connection is available at your address, you can do an availability check directly in our comparison tool. When selecting your filters, you can enter your address and we’ll show what connections are available for your home.

If you regularly send large volumes of data over the internet, a fibre optic connection can be useful. Unlike a standard copper cable connection, it won’t slow down if several people are using it at the same time. Plus, download and upload speeds are the same on fibre optic connections, which makes uploading data to the internet much faster. So if you need the internet for work, for example, and don’t want to be disrupted by slow speeds and waiting times, a fibre optic connection is worth having.