Getting a phone and internet

Getting a phone number and home internet is one of your first priorities when arriving in Germany. These are not optional luxuries—you cannot open a German bank account, sign an apartment lease, or complete your Anmeldung registration without a German phone number, and you'll need both to function in German society. This guide explains your options and helps you avoid the contract traps that lock thousands of expats into expensive agreements.

Mobile Phone: Prepaid vs. Contract

Germany offers two distinct paths to mobile connectivity: Prepaid (also called Prepaid-Karte) and contract-based plans (Vertrag). The choice is critical because long-term contracts lock you in and can cost hundreds of euros if you try to exit early.

Prepaid: Flexibility Without Commitment

A prepaid SIM card is the safest choice when you first arrive. You buy a SIM card at a supermarket or online, load credit, and pay for monthly data packages as needed. No credit check is required, no long-term contract binds you, and you can throw it away whenever you leave.

• No Schufa credit check (Schufa is Germany's credit agency)
• Activate within 24 hours, or minutes with eSIM (electronic SIM)
• Monthly data packages typically cost 10 to 40 EUR, renewable every 4 weeks
• No German bank account required
• Cancel anytime—just stop using it

Major providers offering prepaid options include Telekom, Vodafone, and O2 (operated by Telefónica). Budget brands like Aldi Talk, Congstar, and Fraenk sell prepaid SIMs on these same networks at lower prices—they are resellers, not their own networks, but network quality remains high.

Contract Plans (Vertrag): Better Value, Higher Risk

A contract plan (Postpaid-Vertrag or Laufzeitvertrag) gives you more data and often a subsidized phone, but ties you to 24-month minimum terms with strict cancellation rules. These are best only if you are certain you'll stay in Germany for at least two years.

• Typical 24-month minimum term (Mindestlaufzeit); some providers offer 12-month options
• Requires a German IBAN for monthly direct debit (Lastschrift) payments
• Requires identity verification via Video-Ident (a quick video call) and Schufa credit check
• More data and often cheaper monthly rates than equivalent prepaid plans
• Phone subsidies available, though increasingly rare

Choosing Your Network

Germany has four physical mobile networks: Telekom, Vodafone, O2, and the newer 1&1. Every SIM card you buy—whether prepaid or contract, premium brand or budget reseller—operates on one of these four networks.

• Telekom (D1): Best coverage overall, especially rural areas; highest prices; 98% 4G coverage nationwide
• Vodafone (D2): Second-largest operator; good balance of coverage and price; 95% 4G coverage and strong performance in cities and along highways
• O2 (Telefónica, E-Netz): Most budget-friendly; strong in cities but weaker rural coverage; 86% 4G coverage
• 1&1: Newest operator; uses Vodafone for national roaming where its own network is missing; competitive pricing

For urban expats, O2 offers excellent value. For those needing reliable coverage in rural areas or frequent travel, Telekom is worth the extra cost. Vodafone is the middle ground and particularly strong along highways and train corridors.

Registration and Documents

Both prepaid and contract SIM cards in Germany require identity verification by law. This is not optional and protects against fraud.

• Prepaid SIM: Passport alone is usually sufficient; some providers ask for a residential address
• Contract SIM: Passport, Anmeldung (address registration certificate), German bank account IBAN, and often proof of income
• eSIM activation: All four major operators now support digital SIM activation; you can activate your number before you land or within minutes of arrival

Home Internet: DSL, Cable, and Fiber

Your apartment's location and building determine which internet types are available. Always check availability at your address before signing a contract, as you cannot simply switch providers if you discover your building doesn't have the connection you ordered.

Connection Types

• DSL (VDSL Supervectoring): Uses copper telephone lines in nearly every German building; speeds up to 100–250 Mbit/s; stable and reliable, unaffected by neighborhood demand; cheapest option; available almost everywhere
• Cable (Kabel): Transmits via coaxial TV cables; speeds up to 500+ Mbit/s; faster than DSL but shared bandwidth means congestion during peak hours; available to roughly 2 of 3 German households; Vodafone owns the largest cable network
• Fiber (Glasfaser/FTTH): Fastest and most reliable; speeds typically 300 Mbit/s to 1 Gbit/s; availability still limited (around 50% of German households pass as of 2025) and rolling out slowly; most expensive

Check availability at your address via Check24, Verivox, or directly on provider websites (Telekom, Vodafone, 1&1, O2). Simply enter your postcode or full address and the system will show you what's available.

Major Internet Providers

Most expats choose from four main providers:

• Deutsche Telekom: Dominates DSL market; best overall coverage and reliability; higher prices; DSL and fiber options
• Vodafone: Leads cable market; fast speeds; competitive pricing; cable and fiber options
• 1&1: Often cheapest option; offers DSL and fiber; uses Telekom infrastructure
• O2: Budget-friendly; decent coverage in urban areas; DSL options

Installation Timeline and Setup

Internet setup in Germany is notoriously slow. After you sign a contract, expect 2 to 4 weeks before your connection activates. This delay catches many expats off guard.

• Sign contract online or in person; you must provide your exact address, floor number, and apartment location
• Provider checks line availability and coordinates with Telekom infrastructure (most Germans rely on Telekom's street cabinets)
• You receive an activation date (Schalttermin) via letter, typically 2–4 weeks later
• A technician visits your apartment and sets up the connection; you must be home during the entire appointment window (e.g., 8 AM to 12 PM)
• Sometimes activation is done remotely if the previous tenant left recently; otherwise a technician is required

This wait is unavoidable. Plan ahead by ordering internet as soon as you sign your apartment lease, ideally before you move in. Some providers (Telekom and Vodafone) offer temporary hotspot packages or extra mobile data while you wait for home installation.

What You Need to Set Up Internet

• Anmeldebescheinigung (address registration certificate) from your local Bürgeramt—required by virtually all providers
• Valid passport or ID
• German IBAN for monthly direct debit (Lastschrift) payment
• Proof of income for some contracts; typically proof of employment or university enrollment
• Some providers will accept a foreign bank account, but this is not guaranteed—check before committing

Many online banks (Wise, N26, Revolut) allow you to open an account online before you have a German address. This is helpful if you're moving soon. However, most internet providers require a German IBAN registered to your German address, so delays in opening a German account will delay internet setup.

Router: Rental vs. Ownership

Your provider will offer a router, typically as a monthly rental (5–10 EUR per month). Germany's Routerfreiheit (Router Freedom) law lets you use your own compatible device instead.

If you plan to stay more than one or two years, buying a Fritz!Box router (AVM brand, available at Saturn, Amazon, or electronics shops for 130–180 EUR) is a good investment. These routers are reliable, hold their value, and work with nearly all German ISPs.

Contract Terms and Cancellation

Minimum Contract Terms (Mindestlaufzeit)

German law caps the initial minimum term for telecom contracts at 24 months for mobile and internet. Some providers offer 12-month options, though these typically cost more per month. You must read the contract summary before signing to understand your exact term and when you can cancel.

How to Cancel

During the minimum term, you cannot cancel without penalty unless specific exceptions apply (moving abroad, price increase, service failure). Once the minimum term ends, cancellation rules are much simpler.

• Before the minimum term ends: Locked in; early termination incurs penalties unless moving abroad, experiencing price hikes, or service problems
• At or after the minimum term: You must cancel in writing at least 30 days before the contract renews. If you miss the notice period, your contract converts to a rolling monthly agreement cancellable with one month's notice
• Cancellation method: Online via the Kündigungsbutton (required cancellation button on provider websites since July 2022), email, registered letter, or SMS/fax. Always request written confirmation

Moving abroad is a special case. If you can provide proof of de-registration (Abmeldung) from Germany, you may have the right to terminate early with three months' notice. Requirements vary by provider, so contact them before assuming you can exit.

Number Portability

If you get a phone number on one provider and want to switch, you can port your number (Rufnummernmitnahme) to a new provider for free. You can even port before your old contract ends, giving you flexibility without losing your number.

Getting Connected: A Practical Timeline

1. Day of arrival: Buy a prepaid eSIM or prepaid SIM card at a supermarket or order online. You have a working number within hours or minutes.
2. Week 1: Complete your Anmeldung at the Bürgeramt. This takes 10–30 minutes.
3. Week 2: Open a German bank account (online banks are faster).
4. Week 3–4: Sign mobile and internet contracts if you plan to stay longer than 6 months. For home internet, order immediately even if installation is weeks away.
5. 4–6 weeks after signing: Home internet technician visits and connects your line.

The earliest you can upgrade from prepaid to a contract mobile plan is once you have a German address, a bank account, and preferably a German credit history (Schufa). If your contract application is rejected at first, this is normal for newcomers—do not panic. Many providers offer SIM-only contracts without phone subsidies, and some check Schufa less strictly.