Telecommunication in Germany

You can choose from a large amount of offers made by the various German telephone operators and Internet access providers.

Finding a suitable mobile operator in Germany

The latter do not have their infrastructure but are instead using the existing infrastructure that belongs to the main operators.

In recent years, many discount mobile operators have popped up in the mobile phone market which has led to a significant drop in mobile phone rates.

To decide which plan best suited for you, you should think about your needs and habits regarding mobile phone use. In general, you have the choice between prepaid or pay-as-you-go contracts and annual plans.

Moreover, you can choose between limited and unlimited plans and contracts, with or without a mobile phone.

Changing your mobile phone provider in Germany

Rates and offers are constantly changing. Switching to a provider that matches your needs better can save you a lot of money. However, you should read your contract carefully to make sure that you do not get charged a lot for changing your plan.

What to do if I own a prepaid plan?

If you have already chosen a prepaid card and would like to change your plan, you should first check your balance.

If you have used up your balance, you can simply choose a new contract and your old prepaid card will normally expire after several months of no use. Nevertheless, check your contract for more details.

Mobile phones sold as part of a prepaid plan are often locked to a specific network. To use the phone with the SIM card of another provider, you have to unlock it first.

In the first 24 months, most providers charge a service fee of about 100 EUR for unlocking your phone, but after this period it is usually free.

What to do if my plan includes a minimum contract duration?

Most contracts in Germany have a minimum length of either 12 or 24 months. After this period, your contract renews automatically if you do not cancel your plan in due time.

For more details of your particular plan, check your mobile phone contract.

If you are planning to cancel your plan after the minimum length, you are normally required to unsubscribe three months before the end of the contract / the renewal date.

Make sure to send your cancellation a few days before this date, since your operator will consider the date that your cancellation request arrived and not the date that it was sent.

It is also recommended sending your cancellation request by registered mail (“Einschreiben”) to prove its arrival. Most operators provide a form on their website to facilitate the cancellation process.

If the minimum duration is not yet over, it is not always possible to successfully cancel your plan.

Sometimes your provider will charge you for unsubscribing ahead of time, and you often have to pay at least a share of the charges for the fixed duration mentioned in your contract.

How can I keep my number?

To keep your number, it is necessary to cancel your contract. Normally, your previous provider will charge you for transferring your number. The cost of  transferring your number is usually between 25 and 30 EUR, depending on your provider.

If you have a prepaid plan, make sure to refill your balance with the amount necessary to transfer your number. Your new provider will generally reward the transferral of your old number.

Subject to the “Universal Service Directive”, every customer has the right to transfer their mobile phone number for a reasonable price.

However, it is crucial that you follow the specific conditions for time and form of your request, otherwise you will lose the right of porting your number. 

After your cancellation you can make a request to your new provider to transfer your number.

You can set this request anytime between 123 prior and 30 days after expiration of your previous contract.

Good to know

In case you have a disagreement with your provider, you can approach the conciliation committee for telecommunication of the Federal Network Agency Schlichtungsstelle Telekommunikation der Bundesnetzagentur.

The committee is in charge to support consumer and provider to find an extrajudicial decision. Since this service is only available in German, feel free to contact us.

Make sure to cancel additional services as ringtones as well. These services are often booked separately and will not be cancelled automatically with the normal plan cancellation.

German law prohibits the usage of mobile phones while driving a car. You should use a hand free device when driving.

What to do if you lost your phone?

You should immediately lock your SIM card. To do so you have to contact your provider either online or by phone. Most providers offer a function on their website where you can lock your card easily.

You can also call your provider or even call the general locking line. This service will forward you directly to your provider.

To lock your SIM card call: 116 116

Landline and Internet in Germany

In Germany, you can get package contracts including landline telephone, Internet access and even TV service for a monthly rate.

Before making your choice, you should think about what use you will make of the phone (frequency and destination of the calls) as well as the length of your subscription. 

Commitment periods in German telephone contracts are fixed. The Exception for the minimum duration is the case of moving abroad.

In this case, you can cancel the contract with a three months period of notice even if the minimum duration of your contract is not over yet.

When switching to another provider or moving within the same area, you can port your landline number. The porting procedure is similar to the mobile number porting, but it is recommended to request the porting before cancelling your previous contract.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Innovation Council and Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Executive Agency (EISMEA). Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.