If you’ve recently moved to Switzerland, one of your first priorities for settling into your new home will be to set up your internet. Not many of us could live without a fast and reliable internet connection, especially if you work from home. Thankfully, Switzerland offers some of the fastest internet speeds in Europe.
This guide explains how to get your internet connection set up and what you need to know about the different internet providers in Switzerland.
Internet providers in Switzerland
There are a large number of internet providers in Switzerland to choose from. Unlike with other utilities in Switzerland, you can freely choose your internet company:
Internet price comparison sites
Before signing a contract with anyone, it's a good idea to use a comparison site such as Alao or Comparis to compare offers.
You can use the comparison tool’s filters to narrow down offers according to your preferences. You can also enter your address to check for high speed internet connections in your area.
Do I need to set up my own internet in Switzerland?
Depending on your circumstances, you may not need to set up an internet connection when you move into a new place in Switzerland.
Renters
If you are renting, you may be able to take over the previous tenant’s contract. Certainly, if you stick with the same provider that the previous tenant used, the whole setup process will be a lot simpler. If you are subletting, the lead tenant or landlord will usually sort out the internet and include (a portion of) the cost in your rent.
Homeowners
If you have bought a house, or you are renting and aren’t able to take over the previous tenant’s contract, you will probably need to set up a new connection. Unless you are opting for a mobile internet plan (see below), this means you will need to wait for a new router to be delivered and/or a technician to set up your internet line.
Take a look at the availability information to make sure that an internet provider is available in your area before you sign a contract.
Internet service providers
There are four major internet service providers in Switzerland, which together cover more than 80 percent of the population:
- Swisscom is the biggest provider, with a 46,5% market share, according to ComCom
- Sunrise is the second-biggest provider, with a market share of 27,5%
- Salt is the third-largest provider, though with a much smaller market share of 5%
- Quickline has a market share of 4%
- The remaining 17% of the market is covered by a variety of smaller CATV, DSL and fibre optic providers
What is the best internet provider in Switzerland?
The question as to which is the best internet provider in Switzerland will depend on your situation and preferences. The following considerations should inform your choice:
Cost
Watch out for unexpected and hidden costs. Most internet providers offer special introductory prices or new customer discounts for the first few months, so make sure you understand exactly what you’ll be paying each month for the duration of your contract.
You should also be aware that, on top of a monthly fee for your internet plan, some providers may charge a connection fee and/or a fee for your router, plus administrative fees for services like paper billing.
Most providers will offer bundles that combine your internet, TV and landline phone into one fixed monthly price. This can be a cost-effective way of paying for all three at once.
Connection speed
Internet contracts in Switzerland are priced according to the speed - the faster the internet, the more you pay. In theory, you can get internet speeds of up to 10 Gbit/s, but how much do you actually need?
Rather than paying for more than you’ll use, note that 100 Mbit/s is generally considered more than enough for most internet users:
- 20-50 Mbit/s is enough for standard web browsing, sending and receiving emails, and normal-quality streaming.
- 50-100 Mbit/s is enough for multiple people to simultaneously browse the web, and send and receive emails.
- 100-1.000 Mbit/s is what you’ll need if you have multiple people simultaneously performing data-intensive activities like video calls, HD streaming and online gaming.
Be aware that you may not always get the promised speed from your internet provider. If you are having trouble, you can use Switzerland’s standardised speed test tool, and get support if your internet is slower than what is specified in your contract.
DSL, cable, fibre optic or mobile network?
Not all internet connections run on the same technology, and the technology used can greatly impact the speed and reliability. In Switzerland, the following types of internet connections are used:
- DSL: Transmits data via a copper telephone line. DSL is the most common type of connection in Switzerland, but it is generally slower and less reliable than cable or fibre optic. Many Swisscom and Sunrise internet connections use DSL, or a mixture of DSL and fibre optic.
- Cable: Transmits data via a coaxial TV cable. Cable is faster than DSL but not as fast as fibre optic. Cable internet is shared among users in an area, so it can be slower at peak times. In Switzerland, Sunrise and Quickline are the two best-known cable service providers.
- Fibre optic: Transmits data using glass fibres, and is generally the fastest and most reliable type of internet connection. While fibre optic networks are expanding in Switzerland, many internet providers still use copper (DSL) lines to service the final stretch into the customer’s home. Make sure to check whether your fibre optic network runs to the house (FTTP) or just to the local area (FTTC or FTTN). As of 2023, around 27% of internet connections in Switzerland are fibre optic.
- Mobile network: Transmits data using mobile communications networks like 4G or 5G. Many Swiss mobile phone providers offer special home broadband internet plans. These home internet plans can be a good short-term solution or useful in remote areas, but the connections tend to be less stable.
Availability in your area
You can check which internet providers operate in your area, and whether fibre optic connections are available, using a price comparison site, or by checking the websites of individual providers:
Customer support (in English)
It’s also worth considering whether your chosen internet provider offers customer support in a language you can understand, if you do not speak one of the languages of Switzerland. The major operators like Swisscom, Sunrise, Salt and Quickline all offer customer support in English, from setup right through to troubleshooting.
Many of the smaller providers do not have dedicated English-language support, but you may be able to speak to an operator who can speak English.
Contract length
Most internet packages in Switzerland are sold for a minimum contract period, typically somewhere between 12 and 24 months. It can be expensive, if not impossible, to cancel your contract or switch providers before the minimum contract period is up. You may incur a significant cancellation cost or transfer fee.
If you are staying in Switzerland for less than a year (for instance if you are studying for a semester and renting student accommodation), you’ll make your life a lot easier by looking for a contract with no minimum duration, where you can cancel at any time with a month’s notice. Many mobile network home internet connections are offered with no minimum contract period.
How to set up your internet connection
Choosing a new internet package in Switzerland is a simple process that can be done entirely online, although it is always good to check in-store for special offers and freebies.
Choose your desired package based on connection type and internet speed (and potentially any package add-ons you want, such as TV and a landline connection). To sign up, you’ll need to enter your address and details of your bank account.
If you are setting up a new connection, you may need to wait for a router to be delivered to your house, or a technician to come out and set it up, which can take as much as a few weeks. It’s therefore a good idea to start the process of setting up your internet as soon as you change address.
Changing your internet provider in Switzerland
Internet contracts in Switzerland tend to automatically renew as soon as they expire. If you wish to cancel your contract or change provider (after your initial contract term, if applicable), you’ll need to give your current provider at least one month’s notice.
It’s usually easy to switch providers: your new provider will normally take care of terminating your contract with the old provider. They’ll send you a new router to plug in and get connected, ensuring the transition is smooth.
Cancelling your internet contract
You may need to cancel your internet contract without switching to a new provider, for instance if you are leaving Switzerland permanently. Normally, internet providers will let you cancel a contract early with no charge if you can prove you are moving to a new address that is not served by them (e.g. abroad). You can show the provider proof of your new address or deregistration.
Depending on your provider, it may be possible to do this online via their website; otherwise you should speak to a customer service representative on the phone or provide notice of your cancellation in writing. It’s a good idea to ask the provider to confirm in writing that your contract has been cancelled.
Free public WiFi in Switzerland
If you are waiting for your internet to get hooked up at home (or you want to avoid expensive roaming charges or have just run out of mobile data!) you’ll be pleased to hear that many bars, cafes, restaurants, hotels and other establishments in Switzerland offer free WiFi. Even some Swiss ski resorts like Davos and Zermatt have WiFi available on the slopes!
SBB offers free internet access at more than 80 of its stations (limited to 60 minutes per user), as well as free connections on all of its long-distance trains in Switzerland, via the FreeSurf app. All PostBuses also have free WiFi, although you do need to register to use it.
If you don’t mind paying, there are also multiple companies that offer public WiFi hotspots from hundreds of locations across Switzerland. You can pay on an hourly, daily or monthly basis. Swisscom and Monzoon are the two biggest providers.
How good is the internet in Switzerland?
By international standards, internet connections in Switzerland are very good. The country consistently ranks among the top of all OECD countries for broadband connections using various technologies. As of 2023 (the most recent year for which data is available), Switzerland ranked third among OECD countries, with by far the majority of users enjoying internet speeds between 100 Mbit/s and 1 Gbit/s.
Overall, much of the internet system in Switzerland still relies on either cable connections or connections through dial-up, and so speeds can be variable depending on where you are located. Cities in Switzerland have started a push to adopt high-speed, fibre-optic DSL connections, with cities like Zurich having an entirely fiber-optic network.
The decision to upgrade internet connections is done via referendum in your local council (Gemeinde), and it is not rare to find communities rejecting plans to upgrade. Use the links above to find out what speed options are possible in your area.