Why is the Wi-Fi connection not as good as I’m used to?
Unfortunately, the Wi-Fi connection does not always work at the desired speed in Germany. Germany is behind the Netherlands regarding Internet speed and fibre optic connections. Most households in Germany are still connected by copper cable as opposed to fibre optic cables. As the copper network is already largely in place, the German government prefers to focus on expanding it rather than building new fibre optic connections. Germany therefore has lower-quality Internet connectivity than its neighbouring countries.
There is also a big difference in network quality throughout Germany. The network is not always able to withstand high user frequency, making it even worse at peak load.
Can I use Wi-Fi in public places?
Until 2017, Wi-Fi providers were responsible for users’ downloading behaviour (at the risk of fines for illegal downloading), and data usage is usually not unlimited, which is why public places do not yet offer Wi-Fi as standard.
Is Wi-Fi available in my accommodation?
Most of our rentals include Wi-Fi at no extra cost. However, many Internet subscriptions in Germany do not have unlimited data, so the network may be slower or unavailable once the data limit is exceeded. This is why homeowners sometimes ask that you not download or stream large files during your stay.
Do you plan to work online during your stay?
If you plan to use the Internet for work during your stay, we recommend a backup solution such as a mobile hotspot using your phone’s data plan. You may also need to increase your data limit when staying in Germany.