TV, internet & phone: practical info

Set up your TV, internet & phone: basic facts

• Setting up telecoms at home will take between 1 to 2 weeks - sometimes even longer. Start the process before you move to your new address.

• For mobile, you will require proof of residence, even for the purchase of pre-paid mobile SIM cards.

• Hello Switzerland's activation service gives you a head start and reduces your waiting time. 

• The mandatory radio-television licence fee which is CHF 335.-/ year is device-independent and must be paid by every household. The fee is collected by Serafe AG, who automatically sends every household an invoice, using data from the cantonal and municipal registers of residents.

Quick tips to differentiate between telecom providers

There are numerous telecom providers in Switzerland, ranging from budget options to more expensive. Here's a quick way to differentiate between them: English customer service is probably the most critical if you don't speak the local Swiss language. 

• Pricing

• Quality of customer service

• English customer service: be aware that not all local providers are able to provide customer service in English.

Think carefully about your needs before you set up your telecoms

For phone set up: how much will you need to use international minutes? To which countries? Unlimited options are available for Europe, but less for other continents.

For internet set up: what speed is best for you?

For TV set up: are channels from your home country available?