Germany Guide: Telephone & Internet

For most people arriving in a new country, keeping connected with a phone or mobile is a high priority. Be careful about using roaming with your foreign mobile - it can get very expensive quickly! Our guide is packed with information on telecom providers, tariffs and tips on saving money on international calls.

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  Introduction

  The German Telecommunication market

  The German state monopoly, Deutsche Telekom dominated the German telecom market until 1998, with high prices and sometimes slow service. Since then it has been gradually privatized and the market deregulated to allow competitors to enter and control interconnection charges.

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  Calling

  How to make a phone call in Germany

  Calling from Germany is pretty much the same as any other country. Almost all foreign countries can be direct-dialed. For exceptions to this you have to ring the exchange at 0010 and ask to be connected.

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  Call-by-call

  The easy way of saving money on your phone calls

  When making long-distance calls (more than 50 kms away), you can save money by using a call-by-call service. This system allows you to use an alternate provider through a Deutsche Telekom fixed line.

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  Getting a phone line

  How to get a fixed line at home

  Getting a phone line installed is a straightforward process. The easiest way is to complete an application form in a Deutsche Telekom shop ("T-Punkt").

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  Public phones

  Phone booths and phone cards

  Due to the increase in mobile penetration, public phones are less common that they used to be. They can be found in post offices, railway stations, airport stations and urban pedestrian areas.

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  Information

  Phone books, enquiries and important numbers

  Local phone books, white pages (Telefonbuch) and yellow pages (Gelbe Seiten) are available free of charge from Deutsche Telekom.

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  Mobile phones

  Mobile operators and networks

  Mobile phones in Germany are usually called Handys. Mobile phone use is high, although not quite as in Finland or Italy. Germans love their mobiles and use them frequently.

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  Mobile rates

  How to decide on a calling plan

  Unless you have a doctorate in nuclear physics, understanding the pricing plans of the various providers can be a challenge. Most pricing plans are complex and built to confuse, but the following points should help in making your decision:

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  Calling cards

  How to save money on international calls

  International calls home can be really expensive. One of the cheapest ways to keep in touch with your family and friends is to use an international prepaid calling card.

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  Choosing

  Choosing a prepaid calling card

  Working out which prepaid international calling card to buy is difficult. There are many cards available; tariffs and conditions are really complicated.

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  How to use

  Using an international phonecard

  Using prepaid calling cards is straightforward once you understand how they work. All you need is the right access number to dial and a PIN number.

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  Internet access

  How to get your internet connection at home

  There is a wide range of ISPs (Internet Service Providers) in the German market. It's certain that during your stay you will receive a lot of advertising and promotional CDs from them! All universities and most schools have access to the Internet.

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  Internet cafés

  Where to get a access in public

  If you have computer access at home or work, there are Internet cafés in many city centers. Some shops and calling centers now provide Internet access to their customers.

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