Telecommunications
The Swiss enjoy state-of-the art telecommunications. Switzerland's ultra-modern radio and television, mobile, fixed-network telephony and internet infrastructure makes it a highly attractive location for businesses in the telecommunications sector. The Swiss telecommunications market is dominated by the incumbent telecoms operator, Swisscom.
All telecommunication in Switzerland exploits the latest technology. Much has happened since the first national medium wave radio transmissions in the early 1930s, and DAB+ has been available throughout Switzerland since 2015.
Mobile telephony is developing even faster. Switzerland is one of the first countries to introduce the new 5G wireless standard. Fixed networks are also gradually being upgraded and telecom companies are increasingly switching to internet-based IP telephony, which takes advantage of Switzerland's large-scale fibre optic coverage.
This infrastructure is one reason why IT companies like Google have offices in Switzerland, and why the operation of server centres, for example in decommissioned army bunkers, is so attractive.
Telecommunications – Facts and Figures
- The parallel Next Generation Access (NGA) networks operated by Swisscom and the cable network operators deliver broadband to over 80% of Switzerland's homes and businesses. NGA coverage is above 90% in rural areas – almost twice the European average.
- There are over 300 national and local cable network operators supplying digital TV, internet and voice telephony services.
- In 2021, Swisscom held a 58% share of Switzerland's mobile phone market, followed by Sunrise (23%) and Salt (17%).
- In 2021, there were three times as many mobile network subscribers in Switzerland as there were landline subscribers.
- Switzerland is at the top of the OECD rankings for broadband connections, with almost half the population subscribing to broadband.
- The number of regular internet users (more than once a week) rose from 37% in 2001 to 96% in 2021. The most used device for internet access are smartphones, followed by laptops.
- In 2021, some 90% of Swiss households had a TV set and watched between 2 and 3 hours of television a day. On-demand TV is becoming more and more popular, with smart TVs now replacing laptops and PCs for access to streaming services.
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TV and radio
Television is still the most popular source of information and entertainment, and radio for music. The entire population watches TV and listens to the radio on a daily basis.
Fixed-line and mobile telephony
Switzerland has one of the highest levels of mobile phone use in the world due to widespread internet uptake and an excellent mobile phone network.
Internet
It is not for nothing that Google chose Zurich as the location for its largest base outside of the United States. The internet and how it is used in Switzerland.