Frequently Asked Questions — German Mobile Tariffs

Under the Telekommunikationsgesetz (TKG) 2021, the maximum initial contract term for consumer mobile contracts in Germany is 24 months. Providers may not impose longer initial terms on retail consumers. After the initial term, the contract converts to monthly, not to a new 24-month period. See Contract Terms Guide for full details.

Since the TKG 2021 reform, the standard notice period is one calendar month. The three-month notice period that was standard before 2022 has been abolished for consumer contracts. Your cancellation must be received by the provider within one calendar month before the desired end date. See Cancel Mobile Contract for step-by-step guidance.

Drosselung (throttling) is the reduction of your data speed once you have used your monthly high-speed data allowance. Instead of charging you extra, providers switch you to a much lower speed — typically 32 Kbit/s, 64 Kbit/s, or 128 Kbit/s — until the billing cycle resets. At 64 Kbit/s, basic messaging and email work, but streaming and most web browsing are too slow for comfortable use. See Data Speeds Explained.

Yes. Under the EU "Roam Like at Home" regulation, you can use your German mobile plan in all EU member states and EEA countries (Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein) at domestic rates. However, the data roaming allowance may be smaller than your domestic data cap, depending on your tariff's pricing. Always check your specific tariff's roaming data volume before travelling. See Roaming in the EU.

An MNO (Mobile Network Operator) owns its own physical network infrastructure (antennas, masts, core network). In Germany, the four MNOs are Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, Telefónica/o2, and 1&1. An MVNO (Mobile Virtual Network Operator) rents capacity from an MNO and resells mobile services under its own brand. Examples: congstar (Telekom network), Aldi Talk (o2 network), Lidl Connect (Vodafone/o2). MVNO tariffs typically cost less but may have lower speed priority during peak network load. See Network Coverage Germany.

Yes. Under §111 of the Telekommunikationsgesetz, all SIM cards in Germany — including prepaid — must be registered with a verified identity before activation. Acceptable verification methods include: in-store purchase with ID, PostIdent (at a Deutsche Post branch), VideoIdent (video call with an agent), or eID via the AusweisApp2. The SIM will not be activated until verification is complete. See Prepaid vs. Postpaid.

Under TKG 2021, if you do not cancel a fixed-term contract before the end of the minimum term, it automatically converts to a monthly contract — not to a new 24-month period. You can then cancel with one month's notice at any time. This is a significant improvement from the pre-2022 rules, where contracts automatically renewed for 12 months. Providers must send you advance notice of the upcoming contract end.

Yes. Number portability (Rufnummernmitnahme) is a legal right in Germany. You request the port from your new provider during sign-up — they handle the technical transfer. The process typically takes 1–3 business days. Important: porting your number does not automatically cancel your old contract — you must separately send a formal cancellation (Kündigung). See Contract Terms Guide.

Several factors can cause slow speeds before reaching your data cap: (1) Your tariff may have a speed cap lower than the maximum network speed (e.g., "bis zu 25 Mbit/s" instead of full LTE). (2) Network congestion during peak hours can reduce speeds for all users. (3) Your device may be connected to a weaker frequency band or at the edge of coverage. (4) Some tariffs apply speed reductions to certain types of traffic. Check your tariff's stated maximum speed and verify with a speed test in different locations. See Data Speeds Explained.

An Allnet-Flat is a flat-rate calling package that includes unlimited calls to all German mobile and landline networks. It typically also includes unlimited SMS. However, Allnet-Flat does not automatically cover: calls to special rate numbers (0900-x premium numbers), international calls to numbers outside Germany, calls to some service numbers (118xx directory services), or voicemail (though many tariffs include voicemail calls in the Allnet-Flat). Check the specific tariff's terms for exact inclusions. See Types of Tariffs.

The most reliable method when abroad is via the provider's website or app using a credit/debit card or PayPal. This works anywhere with an internet connection. Alternatively, online voucher platforms (such as recharge.com) allow purchasing German top-up codes that are delivered digitally and can be redeemed via the provider's website or app. Physical vouchers from German supermarkets are not available outside Germany. See How to Top Up Prepaid.

It depends on the specific MVNO and tariff tier. Some MVNOs — particularly on the Telekom network — do offer 5G access in their higher-tier packages. However, many budget MVNO tariffs are LTE-only, even if they operate on a 5G-capable network. Check the tariff description explicitly for "5G" inclusion. The presence of 5G coverage from the host MNO does not automatically mean the MVNO tariff includes 5G access. See Data Speeds Explained.