Mobile Phone and Internet Contracts in Germany

If you are moving to Germany, you will probably need a mobile phone plan and maybe an internet contract for your home. The good news is that the main rules are quite clear once you know what to look for.

Which mobile phone option is best in Germany: prepaid or contract?

In Germany, you usually have two options:

• a prepaid SIM card
• a mobile phone contract

A prepaid SIM card can be a good choice if you want to stay flexible. A contract may be better if you need a mobile phone (providers offer discounts on the devices), more data every month, or plan to stay in Germany for longer.

Important: even if you only buy a prepaid SIM card in Germany, your identity must be verified before the card can be activated.

What should you check before signing a mobile phone contract in Germany?

Before you sign, compare the most important points:

• monthly price
• data volume
• contract length
• cancellation rules
• whether the tariff includes a phone

Providers must also give you a contract summary before the contract is concluded. This summary should show the main terms of the offer clearly, including the price, the contract term and the cancellation conditions. Always read this summary carefully before you agree to the contract

How long can a mobile phone contract in Germany run?

The initial minimum term of a telecom contract may not be longer than 24 months. Providers must also offer a version with a maximum term of 12 months.

Another key rule is this: once a contract has been automatically renewed after the initial term, you can usually cancel it at any time with one month’s notice.

Good to know: If your provider changes the contract unilaterally, you can usually cancel it without notice and without extra costs.

Can you keep your number when switching provider in Germany?

Yes. You can keep your phone number when changing provider in Germany.

Number porting is free of charge. Providers may not charge you for transferring your mobile or landline number.

You can also port a mobile number before the end of your old contract. But this does not end the old contract early. You normally still have to pay the old provider until the contract term ends. You also have the right to request number porting for up to one month after the contract has ended.

To avoid problems, make sure your personal data matches exactly with the data held by your old provider.

What should you know about internet and landline contracts in Germany?

Providers often offer discounted bundles of internet, landline and sometimes even mobile phone contracts.

If you also need internet at home, check first whether the service is actually available at your address. Not every tariff is available everywhere. If you switch provider later, it is often easier to let the new provider manage the change.

If you move house and your provider cannot offer the agreed service at your new address, you have a special termination right with one month’s notice. This almost always applies when you move abroad.

Where can you get help in case of a dispute?

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.

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.