How to Switch Mobile Plans in Switzerland

Many mobile phone users shy away from switching mobile plans. But by following a few simple guidelines, you can move from easily exchange Swiss mobile plans without many hassles.

Here you can find answers to the most important questions and get useful tips from independent online comparison service moneyland.ch.

1. What is the step-by-step procedure for changing mobile plans?

First: Get informed about the best available deals and choose the mobile plan or prepaid mobile offer that best matches your needs. New offers and special promotions come up all the time, and in many cases a cheaper and better offer than your current mobile plan will be available. You can find useful tips in the guide to choosing the right mobile plan.

Second: Review the minimum contract terms and required notice periods of your current mobile plan provider. You will have to wait until the minimum contract term has expired before giving notice, and follow the required notice periods. If you do not, you may be charged penalty fees.

Third: Apply for the mobile plan you want to switch to. You can easily do this online. When you apply for your new plan, specify the date on which you want your mobile phone number to be ported to the new plan (assuming you want to keep your existing phone number). If you specify that you will port your existing number when you apply, you do not have to send in a separate notice of termination to your old mobile plan provider.

Fourth: Your new mobile service provider will send you your new SIM card and inform you about the time of day on which your number will be ported from your old mobile plan to your new plan. The time will generally be fairly accurate, with a margin of around 30 minutes earlier or later. Example: If your number is scheduled to be ported at 3:30pm, the porting will generally occur between 3:00pm and 4:00pm.

2. How do I find the best mobile plan?

You can find practical tips for choosing the best mobile plan for your specific needs in the guide to choosing the right mobile plan.

3. Is it worth waiting for special promotions?

As a general rule, waiting for special promotions when choosing new mobile plans can pay off. Mobile service providers regularly run special promotions. The discounts offered with special promotions can knock up to 70% off the standard prices of mobile plans.

Good to know: You can apply for special promotional offers immediately even if you will only port your phone number in several months (if your current plan’s minimum contract term hasn’t expired, for example). You can find useful tips in the guide to special promotional offers for mobile plans.

4. Does the phone I use affect the mobile plans I can get?

In principle every Swiss mobile plan should work with any modern mobile phone. However, not all plans make sense for all devices. For example, if you use a smartphone, you probably expect to connect to the Internet on the go, so you would likely get a mobile plan which include data.

Compatible SIM card sizes vary between phones, but Swiss SIM cards generally have a 3-in-1 system which lets you resize the SIM card to fit your device.

5. Do I have to terminate my old plan or apply for the new plan first?

If you are moving to a plan from a different mobile service provider, you do not need to give notice to your old provider.

When you apply for your new mobile plan, just request to have your existing phone number ported from your old plan to the new plan. You can specify the date on which your phone number will be ported and your new plan will become active.

Important: Be sure to review your old plan’s required notice periods and minimum contract term when choosing the date on which your new plan will be activated. Ideally, you should choose a date at least several days after your old plan’s minimum contract term expires. The two mobile service providers will coordinate the time at which your number will be ported.

If you do not want to port your existing phone number to your new mobile plan, you have to give notice on your old mobile plan yourself.

6. Can I keep my phone number?

Yes. In Switzerland you can take your existing Swiss phone number with you when you move to a new mobile plan, even if you migrate to a different mobile service provider. This service is called phone number porting.

Just tell your new service provider that you want to keep your existing phone number, and specify a date on which you want your phone number to be ported to your new service provider.

7. How do I know when my new mobile plan will be activated?

Generally, you as the customer specify the date on which you want to new plan to be activated. You must specify a date on which the new plan will be activated and your phone number ported (if applicable). Make sure to observe your old plan’s minimum contract term and notice period when choosing a date on which to port your number or otherwise terminate your old mobile plan.

It is possible that your number will be ported to your new plan several days earlier or later than the date you specified. In every case, your new mobile service provider will inform you of the exact time.

8. How long will my phone be disconnected when I change providers?

The phone number porting is generally completed very quickly. As soon as you notice that your phone no longer has network reception, replace your old SIM card with the SIM card of your new mobile plan. In most cases, your number will have been ported by the time you restart your phone.

9. Can I continue using my old SIM card after changing mobile plans?

No. A SIM card is unique to the mobile service provider which issues it. If you want to migrate to a different mobile service provider, you need to install a SIM card from that service provider.

10. How do I change mobile plans if I want to use an eSIM?

In principle, the process for changing mobile plans is the same whether you use a SIM card or an eSIM.  

The difference is that when you use an eSIM, your new SIM is normally loaded to your phone electronically. Depending on the service provider, you may still get a physical card with the information needed to activate your eSIM.

Some Swiss mobile service providers do not offer eSIMs. You can easily find out which mobile plans are available with eSIMs using the eSIM filter in the interactive mobile plan comparison.

You can find more information in the Swiss guide to eSIMs.

11. What should I pay attention to when looking at bundled telecom offers?

Some telecom service providers offer discounts if you get a mobile plan in combination with their home Internet, TV, and/or landline telephone plans. If you migrate to a different mobile plan later on, you lose the discounts on your other telecom plans. In many cases, getting your different telecom plans from different service providers works out cheaper, even when multi-plan discounts are accounted for.

Migrating to a new mobile plan provides the perfect opportunity to compare your home Internet plan as well to determine whether better deals are available.

12. What notice periods and minimum contract terms apply?

Swiss mobile service providers generally require between 1- and 3-months’ notice ahead of suspending a mobile plan.

Some Swiss mobile plans, including those from Swisscom and many from Salt, have minimum contract terms. These terms are often 12 or 24 months long. Most other service providers do not have minimum contract terms. Some service providers (like Sunrise) use minimum contract terms, but only for special promotional offers.

You can find more information about the notice periods and minimum contract terms of Swiss mobile plans here.

13. What risks are involved in changing mobile plans?

The biggest risk of switching mobile plans are possible clauses included in the fine print of your existing plan. Some mobile plans – including those from Swisscom and Salt – have minimum contract terms as long as 12 or even 24 months. If you suspend your mobile plan before the minimum contract term has expired, you may be charged high penalty fees. Swisscom charges penalty fees as high as 4800 Swiss francs.

You should also watch out for contract renewals. Mobile plan contracts may be renewed automatically when their minimum contract term expires if you do not give notice of termination on time. In this case, the 12-month or 24-month contract term is extended for another 12 or 24 months, meaning you will either have to stick with your old mobile plan or risk a penalty fee.

If you want to move to a new mobile plan, make sure to give notice on your old plan in keeping with the required notice periods.

14. What happens if I terminate a mobile plan ahead of schedule?

Swiss mobile service providers charge penalty fees if you port your phone number to a different service provider before your old contract’s minimum contract term has expired.

Some service providers make you pay a penalty fee equal to two monthly plan fees. There are also service providers which charge penalty fees of several hundred francs. Swisscom is the harshest service provider in this regard: the fine print of its terms and conditions allows it to charge penalty fees as high as 4800 francs.

Tip: Always make sure that your number is only ported to a new mobile plan once your old plan’s minimum contract term has expired. You can apply for a new plan before your existing plans minimum term expires. But you should choose a date after your old plan’s minimum contract term expiration date for the porting of your number and subsequent deactivation of your old mobile plan.

15. Why should I switch mobile plans at all?

There are many reasons why changing mobile plans may be beneficial. These include:

• Dissatisfaction with network quality.
• Dissatisfaction with network coverage.
• Poor reception in a new home.
• Poor reception at a new workplace.
• Dissatisfaction with customer service.
• Price increases.
• Charges for roaming, international calls or mobile data are too high.
• Expiry of special promotional prices resulting in higher costs.
• Availability of new, cheaper offers.
• Availability of new services which are not offered by your existing provider.
• Changes in your situation and habits, and your resulting telecom needs.

16. What should I pay attention to if I switch to a different plan from the same mobile service provider?

Switching to a different mobile plan from your existing mobile service provider is easier than migrating to a different service provider. You can keep your old SIM card and do not have to request a phone number porting. You can usually switch to a different plan from the same provider via SMS or using the online portal.

But here too, there are possible pitfalls. Some mobile service providers charge penalty fees if you switch to a mobile plan with a lower monthly flat fee. You are not normally charged penalty fees when you switch to a more expensive mobile plan.

If you got your existing plan as part of a special promotion, you may lose the special promotional discount when you switch to a different mobile plan. Contacting your mobile service provider for clear information about how changing plans will affect your situation is advisable.

As an existing customer, you will often be at a disadvantage with regards to taking advantage of special promotional offers. Many promotions are only available to new customers. Because of this, migrating to a different mobile service provider often pays off more than sticking with the same mobile service provider.

17. What should I do if my question was not answered here?

Do you have any other questions about switching mobile plans? Do you have questions about specific offers or service providers? Just ask the moneyland.ch telecom expert Ralf Beyeler. He is happy to help.

More on this topic:
How to suspend a Swiss mobile plan
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