Internet provider Switzerland
In Switzerland, three giants dominate the market by owning and managing their own network infrastructure: Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt. They are the ones who expand and maintain the extensive fibre optic, cable and mobile networks that cover the entire country. There are also other Internet providers, the so-called virtual Internet providers. These offer internet subscriptions by renting the infrastructure from the established operators.
The most important Internet providers Network owners
Swisscom is the incumbent operator and undisputed market leader in Switzerland. Partly owned by the Swiss Confederation, it enjoys a privileged position and a reputation for reliability. Its network is the largest and densest in the country, offering very fast internet connections via fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) and state-of-the-art mobile services, including 5G and 5G+. Swisscom continues to invest heavily in order to maintain its technological lead and almost nationwide coverage. This is also reflected in its tariffs, which are among the most expensive on the market.
Sunrise, which merged with UPC in 2020, is the second-largest player on the Swiss market. It has an extensive fixed network, which it inherited from UPC, and a strong mobile network. Sunrise is positioning itself as a strong alternative to Swisscom, offering high internet speeds and ever-growing 5G coverage. The provider is known for its combined offers (internet, TV, mobile) and is trying to attract customers with competitive packages. Its network is regularly rated very close to Swisscom's in terms of performance.
Salt is the third major provider to have its own internet network in Switzerland. Salt is lagging behind its competitors in the expansion of its fibre-optic network, but has invested heavily in improving the fixed and mobile coverage of its network in recent years. The prices for fibre optics and Connected TV are very competitive.
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Virtual Internet providers (MVNOs) : A flexible alternative
In addition to the three major providers with their own infrastructure, there are also numerous so-called virtual internet network operators (MVNOs) on the Swiss market. These companies do not have their own networks, but rent access to the infrastructure of Swisscom, Sunrise or Salt in order to offer their own internet and mobile services.
MVNOs are often able to offer more competitive tariffs, more flexible packages or targeted services for specific niche customers. They manage their own customer service, billing and marketing strategies, relying on the quality and coverage of the host operator's network. By comparing the different offers, you could save a lot of money for the same quality of service.
List of the most important virtual Internet providers
Yallo, a subsidiary of Sunrise, uses the Sunrise Internet network. This virtual iInternet provider has very competitive offers and good customer service. It offers internet services with fibre optic connections of up to 10 Gigabit/s. With the Yallo TV app, you can enjoy over 280 TV channels.
Wingo, a subsidiary of Swisscom, uses the Swisscom Internet network. This virtual iInternet provider has interesting offers, in particular Internet offers without a contract. It offers Internet services with fibre optic connections of up to 10 Gigabit/s.
Mucho Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) based in Geneva, Switzerland, which was founded in 2010.Mucho Mobile is an attractive option for Swiss consumers looking for favourable tariffs and flexibility while benefiting from the quality of the Swisscom network and Swiss-based customer service.
iWay is a Swiss Internet provider based in Zurich that was founded in 1995. It offers Internet (fibre optic and DSL), TV and telephony for private customers and SMEs. iWay leases access to Swisscom's fibre optic lines.
SAK is a Swiss telecommunications provider operating mainly in Eastern Switzerland. It offers Internet, TV and telephone services, often via its own fibre optic network in the regions it serves.
How do I find out which network my house or flat is connected to?
To find out whether your home is suitable for a fibre optic connection, you need to go to the provider's website and test the suitability of your home. If you go to the websites of Salt, Swisscom or Sunrise and enter your address on their websites, you can find out in a few seconds whether your house or flat is connected to the fibre optic network of the respective provider.