4G and 5G mobile coveragein Switzerland: Compare Salt, Swisscom and Sunrise network
Check Swisscom, Salt and Sunrise mobile network coverage and discover the best network for your mobile in Switzerland.
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This map displays the Swiss locations where the 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G signals of mobile networks are available. With internet-offer.ch, you can also check the fiber optic coverage for your llandline or perform an internet speed test to assess your connection's performance.
Compare the best mobile phone offers in Switzerland and activate a plan with the best coverage in your area:
Summary
Swiss 5G Coverage
According to the latest report from ComCom, the Swiss Federal Communications Commission, 5G coverage reached approximately 99% of the population by the end of 2022, with speeds of 1 Gbit/s.
Notably, since the allocation of frequencies in early 2019, the three network operators have rapidly built 5G antennas, achieving coverage levels nearly equivalent to 4G (LTE).
Is 5G permitted in Switzerland?
5G deployment in Switzerland began when new frequency bands were allocated at the beginning of 2019. This auction followed assessments of potential health risks associated with this technology. Given that no correlations were found between exposure and harmful health effects, the government greenlit the construction of 5G infrastructure.
Which operator has the most 5G coverage?
Various mobile network operators are continually expanding their 5G coverage in Switzerland. Presently, nearly the entire Swiss population is covered, with only a few remote areas lacking 5G antennas. Swisscom currently boasts the broadest 5G coverage, followed by Sunrise. Salt announced at the beginning of 2023 that it plans to aggregate 3G, 4G, and 5G signals to enhance next-generation network coverage and bridge the gap.
Which is the fastest 5G?
The fastest 5G signal is known as 5G+, offering transmission speeds of up to 2 Gbit/s. Regarding the speeds of individual operators, it's important to consider that mobile networks have a cellular structure, meaning transmission capacity is shared among users simultaneously within a cell.
Currently, Swisscom and Sunrise networks tend to be faster on average than the Salt network.
How to check 5G coverage?
Presently, the best way to verify 5G coverage in Switzerland is to visit the websites of various operators and follow these steps:
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Visit the website of your desired operator (Salt, Swisscom, Sunrise).
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In the main menu of these websites, look for an option like "Check coverage." This option might be located in the section dedicated to mobile phone offers or in a dedicated space.
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After clicking the button, a map of Switzerland will appear, indicating the municipalities and cantons covered. All websites allow you to search for your municipality's name for a more precise answer.
Alternatively, you can use independent services that guarantee 5G network coverage verification in Switzerland, such as the nPerf Coverage service or the coverage map on internet-offer.ch.
Sunrise Coverage
Sunrise coverage is extensive, and by the end of 2022, it reached over 99% of the population with 4G+ technology, also known as LTE-A. Sunrise mobile network is the only one in Switzerland to have received the highest rating of "Exceptional" from the Connect magazine for six consecutive times, making it highly reliable and high-performing. Starting from January 3, 2023, Sunrise has discontinued its 2G technology and has announced plans to stop managing 3G antennas within approximately three years. Sunrise coverage will, therefore, rely on LTE-A technology, which had already reached 98% of the population in 2022, with signal speeds of 900 Mbit/s, and with expanding 5G coverage.
Sunrise 5G Coverage: How Good is Sunrise's 5G Network?
Sunrise offers the fastest and most extensive 5G network in Switzerland, as confirmed by Connect magazine's measurements: "In the combination of 5G expansion and 5G data transmission speed, Sunrise is at the top," reports the specialized magazine. Sunrise's 5G coverage extends to over 96% of the population with speeds of 1 Gbit/s and has already reached more than 1,100 cities and locations with high-speed 2 Gbit/s 5G broadband.
Which Operators Use the Sunrise Network?
The Sunrise network is currently used by the following virtual mobile operators: Teleboy, Quickline, Digital Republic, yallo, swype, SAK Digital, TalkTalk and Lebara.
To verify the coverage of these virtual mobile operators, you can rely on the Sunrise network coverage map.
yallo Coverage
Since yallo and the new brand swype are directly owned by Sunrise, the network used to provide their telephone services is the Sunrise network. Therefore, we can affirm that yallo coverage reaches over 99% of the population with 4G or 4G+ and over 96% of the population with 5G.
Quickline Coverage
Quickline also uses the Sunrise network as a support network for its mobile services. Quickline network coverage is the same as Sunrise's and can provide internet access to over 99% of the population.
Salt Coverage
Salt coverage reaches over 99.9% of the Swiss population. With its antennas, combining 3G, 4G, 4G+, and 5G signals, the Salt network offers a maximum speed of 750 Mbit/s.
Regarding Salt technologies that are in the process of being discontinued or have already been phased out, you can observe from the map that Salt no longer offers GSM network coverage since 2021, while there has been no announcement regarding the Salt 3G network.
Salt 5G Coverage: Where Is Salt's 5G Available in Switzerland?
Salt 5G network is expanding, albeit with some delays compared to competitors. As of now, Salt 5G technology reaches over 55% of the population with navigation speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s. With Salt 5G+ network, a maximum speed of 1.7 Gbps can be achieved, although 5G+ network coverage is guaranteed only in some urban centers.
Currently, Salt 5G coverage is guaranteed in the following locations: Zurich, Bern, Lucerne, Lausanne, Winterthur, St. Gallen, Geneva, Sion, and a few other cities.
Which Network Does Salt Use in Switzerland?
Contrary to what many think, Salt has no connection to either Sunrise or Swisscom. Salt uses its own mobile network, which ranks as the third-largest in terms of coverage.
Which Operators Use the Salt Network?
The Salt network is currently used by the following virtual mobile operators: iWay, VTX, GoMo, Das Abo, Lycamobile e Lidl Connect.
To verify the coverage of these virtual mobile operators, you can rely on the Salt network coverage map.
Swisscom Coverage
Swisscom was the first company to operate in the field of mobile connectivity in Switzerland. Since 1993, it has consistently managed antennas and mobile networks to ensure optimal coverage throughout Switzerland. Thanks to this three-decade-long history, Swisscom coverage is considered the most extensive of all.
The network technologies currently managed by Swisscom include 3G, 4G, 4G+, 5G, and 5G+. However, Swisscom has already announced that the Swisscom 3G network will only be active until the end of 2025.
Swisscom 5G Coverage: Swisscom Antennas
Swisscom 5G coverage is very extensive, reaching over 99% of the population with speeds of up to 1 Gbit/s by the end of 2022. Furthermore, Swisscom is rapidly expanding its 5G+ network, which will increase the maximum speed to 2 Gbit/s.
With the exponential growth in mobile data usage, Swisscom 5G network is considered the most prepared to offer sufficient coverage to meet the connectivity needs of all its users.
Which Operators Use the Swisscom Network?
The Swisscom network is currently used by the following mobile virtual network operators: Coop Mobile, M-Budget, Wingo and Mucho Mobile.
To check the coverage of these virtual mobile operators, it is necessary to rely on the Swisscom coverage map.
Wingo Coverage
Wingo coverage is entirely based on the Swisscom network. Wingo subscribers can benefit from Swisscom LTE and 5G connectivity wherever they are, with coverage almost reaching 100% of the territory.
Coop Mobile Coverage
Coop Mobile ensures optimal network coverage for its customers through an active partnership with Swisscom. Coop Mobile coverage is based on Swisscom's 4G network, which covers almost the entire Swiss population. Thus, Coop Mobile customers will have no connectivity issues. However, it is important to note that Coop does not currently offer 5G internet connection with its subscriptions.
Swiss MVNO Network
There are three major mobile network operators in Switzerland: Swisscom, Sunrise, and Salt. All three manage 2G, 3G, and 4G networks. In addition to these providers, there are over 20 virtual Swiss mobile phone operators that leverage the three physical mobile networks to offer their phone services.
It's important to remember that although the coverage is the same since the antennas are shared, the internet speed of virtual operators is sometimes limited to favor the performance of users with a direct contract with physical network operators. However, by not having the network management and maintenance costs, virtual mobile operators can offer much more advantageous rates on the market, making them the ideal choice for those looking to spend less on their subscription.
Which network does my mobile operator use?
In the table below, you will find side by side the name of the provider and the physical network used to provide their phone services.
Provider | Network |
|---|---|
Swype | Sunrise |
iWay | Salt |
SAK Digital | Sunrise |
VTX | Salt |
Teleboy | Sunrise |
Digital Republic | Sunrise |
Yallo | Sunrise |
Wingo | Swisscom |
UPC | Sunrise |
Lycamobile | Salt |
TalkTalk | Sunrise |
Lebara | Sunrise |
Quickline | Sunrise |
M-Budget | Swisscom |
Das Abo | Salt |
Coop Mobile | Swisscom |
It is important to remember that virtual operators may not offer the same standards of customer service quality as those found with a physical operator. To find the best Swiss operator, you need to consider different aspects. To simplify this task, you can check the rankings on internet-offer.ch.
Swiss Network Coverage FAQ
How can I find the best connection at my address?
All you need to do is select the network operator you want to check the mobile coverage for and navigate within the map using your mouse or touchscreen until you locate your address. If you wish to test the network coverage of a specific operator you are not yet subscribed to, it's advisable to check if someone in your contacts uses the mobile network you want to test and ask about their experience. Alternatively, you can request a free SIM or use a promotional trial period if offered by the desired company.
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Where do the data on the coverage map come from?
The data displayed on the map is collected from speed tests conducted with the nPerf app and speed tests performed on internet-offer.ch. Data sharing is completely anonymous and serves to ensure a reliable and truthful display of mobile network coverage in a certain area!
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How reliable and accurate is the coverage map?
This test is conducted under real conditions by analyzing coverage data directly collected from those who decide to use the nPerf application. Once mobile coverage data is obtained, it needs to be cross-referenced with GPS data, providing a map view of Swiss mobile networks.
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2G Network Coverage: How long is GSM technology active?
The GSM technology (2G) is a second-generation network introduced in Switzerland in 1993 and definitively abandoned at the end of 2022. Between 2019 and 2021, Salt and Swisscom phased out their 2G networks (GSM, GPRS, and Edge), while Sunrise announced it would no longer support this technology from January 2023.
How are network coverage updates done?
The mobile network coverage map on this page receives automatic updates from a bot every hour. The data is used for the next two years along with the most recent data in the database. After two years, older data is removed from the maps monthly. What we can suggest is to visit the mobile network coverage map from internet-offer.ch each time you consider a change of operator to check the most current network coverage and select the best offer for you.
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Why do I have poor reception?
There can be various reasons for poor mobile network reception in Switzerland. Here are some possible causes:
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Poor coverage in your area: Some areas may have weaker signals due to geographical topography.
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Network congestion issues: In some situations, the network may be congested, especially in crowded places or during events.
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Weather-related issues: Adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain or storms, could affect signal quality.
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Damaged or out-of-service antennas: Mobile network antennas can get damaged or go out of service.
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If the problem persists, we recommend contacting the customer service of your mobile operator for assistance.
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How can I improve my mobile reception?
Mobile reception can be easily improved by choosing the operator with the best network coverage in your area. Another trick is to ensure that your devices do not interfere with the signal of other smart devices or move towards a window or a room with better exposure towards the mobile network antenna from which the signal originates.
Copertura Rete Salt
La copertura di rete Salt raggiunge più del 99,9% della popolazione svizzera. Con le sue antenne, combinando i segnali 3G, 4G, 4G+ e 5G, la rete Salt offre una velocità massima di 750 Mbit/s.
Per quanto riguarda le tecnologie in via di dismissione o già dismesse di Salt, potrai osservare dalla mappa che Salt non offre più una copertura di rete GSM dal 2021, mentre non è stato fatto alcun annuncio riguardante la rete 3G Salt.
What are you waiting for now? Compare the best mobile plans Switzerland with just a few clicks on the internet-offer.ch comparison tool. If you are looking for data-only or home internet, visit the relevant sections to discover how to find an affordable new subscription.
Author: Lapo Zarina
Published: June 2023 | Last updated: January 2024
Sources: Wikipedia (5G page), ComCom, nPerf, mentioned operator websites | Images: nPerf (screenshot coverage map on page)