Fibre Optic Internet Comparison
We have picked out the best fibre optic internet providers for you: ultra-fast internet in Switzerland at low prices. A fibre connection is ideal for families and heavy internet users who want to go online at full speed.
Table of contents
What is fibre optic internet?
If your DSL line feels too slow, fibre is the obvious upgrade. With fibre internet, data travels through fibre optic cables at much higher transfer rates. Several people can be online at once without the speed dropping: you watch TV on your Internet Box while the kids browse, stream films or play online. That is why most people who want a stable connection now choose fibre. Every internet provider in Switzerland offers fibre alongside classic VDSL lines. The fibre network has expanded rapidly in recent years, and most buildings and cities are now connected. If your home is not yet covered, simply ask your provider about getting connected for an installation fee. Also take a look at the best internet-only deals!
Which provider is the cheapest for fibre optic internet?
The Swiss market offers plenty of deals at very different prices, plus the occasional promotion that lets you save a lot. Right now Salt has the lowest price for fibre plans, followed by Wingo. Competition between Swiss providers has pushed prices down over the past few years. If you want an affordable fibre connection, have a look at our comparison to find the latest offers and promotions from internet providers in Switzerland.
What do you need for a fibre optic connection?
First, check whether your home can be connected to fibre. Enter your address on the website of any Swiss internet provider to see whether your building or street already has fibre. Once you have ordered a fibre package, a technician comes round to connect your flat. If the building is already wired up, he only has to run one cable, and the job is done in under an hour. For detached houses the work can be more involved and take up to half a day. Installing the fibre cable in your home costs money, and depending on the offer your provider may or may not cover it. You will find all the prices in our fibre comparison of plans in Switzerland. Also see our internet plans with no minimum contract term!
High-speed internet: the best providers and deals
Most Swiss internet service providers (ISPs) offer fibre internet, and speeds are more or less the same across the board. The exception is Salt, with a theoretical speed of up to 10 Gbit/s, while the others offer 1 Gbit/s, which is still very comfortable. Price is a key criterion for us when comparing fibre deals, and right now we think the offers from SALT and Wingo give the best value for money.
Fibre internet at 1 Gb/s or 10 Gb/s?
Swiss providers currently sell fibre lines at two speed levels, 1 Gb/s or 10 Gb/s. Which one should you pick? Keep in mind that these are theoretical figures, and depending on your home the real speed can drop by 20 to 30 % or sometimes even more. No drama: even then speeds remain very high and guarantee ultra-fast downloads, especially if you are coming from a DSL or cable (CATV) connection. Today, fibre broadband accounts for almost 25 % of internet subscriptions in Switzerland.
Originally aimed at businesses only, 10 Gb/s plans are now offered by more and more mobile operators, and they suit families or companies that want to connect several screens and devices at once. After all, the more people share the same Wi-Fi, the lower the speed per device. Even if you surf alone, we recommend moving up to 10 Gb/s, since prices have fallen sharply in recent years.
Switching from an existing plan to 10 Gb/s costs no more than a 1 Gb/s connection. Some providers, such as Salt, offer a very competitive 10 Gb/s internet plan for just CHF 49.95 a month, TV box included. Now and then providers run special offers on 10 Gb/s plans for a little over CHF 40 a month, but these deals tend to disappear quickly. Keep an eye on current promotions if you want fibre at the lowest price.
Questions & answers about fibre optic plans in Switzerland
1. What do I need at home to install fibre internet ?
For a fibre connection you need an optical socket, known as the OTO socket. When you order through our comparison tool, you only enter the number printed on the socket (the OTO number), so the provider can activate the line remotely. If the building is connected but the socket in your flat is still missing, an electrician sent by the provider will come round (the visit takes under an hour and is usually free for online orders).
2. What is the difference between fibre speeds of 1 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s ?
The Swiss fibre network currently has two ultra-fast standards: 1 Gbit/s or 10 Gbit/s. For almost every family, 1 Gbit/s (1000 Mbit/s) is already more than enough. The 10 Gbit/s plans (from Salt, Wingo or Swisscom, for example) deliver the very best performance with symmetrical speeds (the same speed for downloads and uploads). No device in the house slows down, even under extremely heavy simultaneous use.
3. What is the notice period for my current fibre plan ?
In Switzerland, the standard notice period for landline and internet plans is almost always 60 days (2 months) to the end of a month. Even if you switch to another fibre provider on the same line, observe these 60 days to avoid paying twice. It is also worth checking your minimum contract term beforehand (often 12 or 24 months with the big providers).
4. Does fibre speed drop when several people are online at once ?
No, and that is fibre's biggest advantage over the old copper network (DSL). Fibre carries data as ultra-stable light signals, which are affected neither by distance nor by how many neighbours are active at the same time. The whole family gets the full, steady performance together for 4K streaming, working from home and online gaming.
5. Who is the cheapest fibre internet provider in Switzerland ?
The market is fiercely competitive. With its fibre plan including a TV box for under CHF 50 a month, Salt often has the most aggressive long-term price (even lower for its own mobile customers). Wingo and yallo follow close behind with regular, exclusive online promotions and no minimum contract term. Use the filters in our comparison to sort the current offers by lowest price.
The prices and promotions shown are updated regularly, but special promotions may be running in parallel that we cannot reflect on our website.