Telephone, Internet and Television

Until liberalization in 1998, the Swiss telecommunications market was dominated by Swisscom. Today the population can choose among numerous providers of landline and mobile telephone, VoIP and Internet services. Swisscom, Orange and Sunrise are the major providers of mobile telephone services. In addition, however, there are also other companies that use the networks of the major providers and offer very attractive conditions (including M-Budget Mobile, Coop Mobile, Yallo and Mobilezone). All services are also available to foreign nationals who are living in Switzerland temporarily. However, registration is compulsory (even for prepaid plans). Setting up Internet access is easy. Analogue connections, ISDN, DSL and various cable connections are available.

Cablecom and Swisscom are the market leaders for television. With Cablecom’s analog cable connection, which is already installed in half of all Swiss households, you can get approximately 40 television channels with any television set. An additional receiver is required for digital reception. It is also possible to receive over 100 channels via the telephone line with “Bluewin-TV” (from Swisscom). More than 300 regional cable operators offer services similar to those of Cablecom. And of course you can also receive television channels via satellite. Anyone listening to the radio or watching television in Switzerland must always pay reception fees. These fees must be paid regardless of which programmes are watched or listened to or how they are received. The reception fees for radio and television channels are invoiced and collected by Billag AG.

For further information see 'Communication'.