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Home and business internet in Germany: fiber optics, DSL, cable and satellite connection

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    Connecting a fixed-line internet in a rented apartment or office in Germany requires a basic understanding of available technologies and legal nuances. Unlike mobile communications, fixed-line internet is strictly tied to a specific address, and the process of laying a cable or installing an external antenna directly affects tenancy law and the interests of building owners.

    Express guide: if you have 2 minutes
    • Scenario “Waiting for a technician for weeks”: if the provider delays the cable connection, purchase a 5G router [Homespot]. It works from a standard socket and broadcasts Wi-Fi via a cell tower. This is the best temporary solution when moving. → Wireless alternatives
    • Scenario “I want Starlink satellite internet”: equipment has become cheaper, and plans start at 35 €/month. But remember the main rule of a tenant: attaching a dish to the facade or roof with wall drilling without the owner’s permission is prohibited. Use floor mounts for the balcony and flat cables under the window frame. → Satellite internet and tenancy law
    • Scenario “Forced to pay for TV cable”: since July 1, 2024, the fee for a television cable has been permanently excluded from mandatory utility costs [Nebenkostenprivileg]. You only pay for the internet you chose yourself. → Cancellation of the cable fee
    • Scenario “Provider does not deliver the advertised speed”: to get a discount or terminate the contract early, it is necessary to conduct an official speed measurement through the certified program Breitbandmessung (30 measurements within 14 days). → Speed measurements and subscriber rights

    The Nodia team has prepared this structured material to help tenants, entrepreneurs and freelancers understand data transmission technologies, optimize corporate communication costs and protect their rights.

    1. Basic fixed-line internet technologies

    When choosing a plan, the key factor is the type of cable that is physically brought into your home.

    Wired standards

    1. DSL / VDSL (Twisted pair): Internet is supplied through a classic telephone socket [TAE-Dose]. This is the most common and accessible standard. Speeds range from 50 to 250 Mbit/s.
    2. Coaxial cable (DOCSIS / TV-Kabel): Connection is made through a cable television socket. The technology provides high speeds (up to 1 Gbit/s or 1000 Mbit/s). The main player in this market is the operator Vodafone.
    3. Fiber optics (Glasfaser / FTTH/FTTB): The most modern, fast and stable data transmission standard. The cable can be brought directly into the apartment (FTTH) or to the basement of the building (FTTB). There is an active government campaign to lay fiber optics in Germany, but it is less common in older housing stock.

    Wireless alternatives (Homespot)

    Connecting wired internet is often accompanied by a long wait for a technician’s visit (from 2 to 6 weeks). As a temporary or permanent alternative, providers offer stationary 5G/LTE routers [O2 Home, Vodafone GigaCube, Telekom Speedbox]. The router only requires a connection to a 220V mains supply and catches the signal from the nearest cell tower. Depending on the plan, the device can be strictly tied to the home address or used throughout the country.

    Satellite internet from SpaceX (Starlink) has become a full-fledged alternative to wired networks, especially in rural areas or during frequent moves.

    Plans and costs (Guide for 2026)

    • Standard home plans: Start at approximately 35 €/month (speed limit up to 100 Mbit/s) and 55 €/month (up to 200 Mbit/s).
    • Mobile plans (Roam): For those traveling with a camper, plans are available from 45–50 €/month.
    • Equipment: A one-time purchase of a terminal (antenna and router) is required, the cost of which varies from 300 to 450 € depending on current promotional offers.

    Many tenants face legal difficulties when installing a satellite antenna (dish). According to tenancy law [Mietrecht] and decisions of the Federal Court of Justice (BGH), the following principles apply:

    1. Ban on facade drilling: Attaching an antenna to an external wall, windowsill or roof using bolts constitutes a structural change to the building. This strictly requires the written consent of the landlord [Vermieterzustimmung]. In most cases, landlords refuse, citing damage to the facade and disruption of the building’s appearance.
    2. Legal method (Balcony installation): According to case law (e.g., BGH Az.: VIII ZR 207/04), the installation of an antenna is permissible if it is mobile and non-invasive. The dish can be fixed on a heavy floor tripod stand on the balcony so that it does not protrude beyond it and does not require drilling.
    3. Cable routing: To connect the terminal to the router in a room without drilling window frames, there are special ultra-thin cables (Window-Feed-Through). They are laid in the window gap and allow the sash to be closed without damage.

    3. Business internet (Geschäftskunden): Differences from home plans

    If you are opening an office, a shop or working as an entrepreneur, the requirements for connection stability increase. Plans for business clients [B2B] are more expensive, but offer critical technical parameters:

    • Symmetrical channel: The same high speed for downloading (Download) and uploading (Upload). This is important for video conferences, cloud backups and server operation.
    • Static IP address: Necessary for setting up corporate VPNs, servers and video surveillance systems. In home plans, the IP address is dynamic and changes regularly.
    • Strict SLA (Service Level Agreement): Guarantee of troubleshooting time. In business plans, the provider is obliged to fix a line break in 4–8 hours, while home subscribers may wait for a technician for days.
    • Radio relay connection (Richtfunk / Point-to-Point): In industrial zones [Gewerbegebiet], where fiber optics have not yet been laid, the internet can be supplied through the air via a highly directional radio or laser beam between towers. This provides optical speeds without the need to dig trenches.

    Cancellation of the cable fee (Nebenkostenprivileg)

    Since July 1, 2024, a ban on including the basic fee for television cable in the mandatory utility payments of a tenant has definitively come into force in Germany (§ 230 Abs. 5 TKG). Previously, a landlord could conclude a collective agreement for the entire building and distribute the costs among all residents. Now the tenant is free to choose: they can not pay for cable TV at all, or conclude an individual contract with a provider. Refusal of TV does not prevent using the same cable exclusively for the internet.

    Speed measurements (Breitbandmessung)

    If the actual internet speed is noticeably lower than the one promised in the contract, the subscriber has the right to a proportionate reduction in the subscription fee or early termination of the contract (§ 57 TKG). However, verbal complaints have no legal force. The provider will only accept a claim if there is an official protocol generated through the certified desktop program Breitbandmessung from the Federal Network Agency (BNetzA).

    Current measurement regulations

    To generate a legally binding protocol, it is necessary to perform 30 measurements within 14 days. Measurements must be carried out on three different calendar days, with an interval of at least one day between them (10 measurements on each of the three days). Mandatory condition: the computer must be connected to the router via a LAN cable, not via Wi-Fi.

    Rules when moving (Umzug)

    When changing addresses, the contract for fixed-line internet is transferred to the new apartment (§ 60 TKG). The contract term does not reset to zero. If the provider cannot technically provide the same speed at the new address that was specified in the contract, you get the right to early termination of the contract with a one-month notice.

    Electronic termination button

    According to § 312k BGB, all providers are obliged to place a “Verträge hier kündigen” (Terminate contracts here) button on their websites. You can end the contract online in a couple of clicks without the need to send registered letters.

    5. Official help and advice

    Legal status of the material (Rechtsberatung)

    Nodia’s materials are for informational and reference purposes and do not replace individual legal advice [keine Rechtsberatung im Sinne des RDG]. If the provider refuses to terminate the contract upon moving, ignores speed measurement protocols, or imposes illegal charges, contact the official authorities.

    • Consumer Protection Society [Verbraucherzentrale]: independent protection of citizens from unfair practices of telecom companies.
    • BNetzA Conciliation Board [Schlichtungsstelle Telekommunikation]: state and free mediation for out-of-court settlement of disputes with providers.
    • Legal advice voucher [Beratungshilfeschein]: available at the local district court [Amtsgericht] for recipients of social benefits (gives the right to the help of a lawyer for a symbolic 15 €).

    Information sources