Handy Numbers
To call internationally from Germany: Dial exit code followed by country code and number	Exit code: 00 +country code +tel no
To call internationally to Germany: Dial entry code then German number excluding initial 0	Entry code 49 +tel no
Police	Tel: 110
Ambulance/Fire	Tel: 112
Directory Enquiries (operator service)	Tel: 118 33
Directory Enquiries (automated service)	Tel: 118 64
T-Com Technical Customer Service Hotline	Tel: 0180 534 5345
T-Com IT service line for computer-related advice	Tel: 0800 330 8300
TKS hotline	Tel: 01804 857 7627

Land Lines

Following the liberalisation of the telecommunications market, Germany has become Europe's largest telecom market and there is a wide selection of companies offering their services extremely competitively.

• Deutsche Telekom (T-Com) is the national supplier of traditional telephone landlines and services and has a corporate website in English
• Telepost Kabel-Service (TKS) offers telephone (mobile and landline), Internet and cable television services in Germany and caters in particular to the English-speaking community
• TKS customer hotline Tel: 01804 857 7627
  e-mail
  Website

To Set up a Telephone Connection (Telefonanschluss)

To have a domestic landline telephone installed, connected or reconnected visit a T-Com customer services shop. These are called T-Punkt and there is usually at least one branch in the centre of most cities.

• To find the nearest branch: Click here (in German)
• It is also possible to arrange telephone connection using T-Com's free customer service number: Tel: 0800 330 1000

To set up a new account the following documents are needed:

• proof of identification
• proof of address (polizeiliche Anmeldung)
• bank details to set up a regular payment facility

There is a fixed connection fee for a new telephone connection.  T-Com has a range of tariff packages to suit different needs. There are options for free weekend and evening calls or for fixed rates on local calls for up to one hour.

• To find all T-Com Customer Service hotline numbers: Click here (in German)

Moving House within Germany

Existing telephone numbers can be transferred to a new address within the same area. If moving to a different district or out of the area and the existing phone number cannot be retained T-Com offers a service whereby the new number is given to callers calling the old number for a four-week period.

Inform T-Com at least a week in advance of the move.

• Call T-Com's free customer service number: Tel: 0800 330 1000
• For T-Com online facility for moving house: Click here

Customers need to supply the following information:

• Customer number
• Bank details
• Old and new address
• Name of the former subscriber at the new address (if known)
• Disconnection date at the old address
• Connection date at the new address

TKS disconnection requires one month's notice and will terminate at the end of a calendar month. The pre-paid deposit is usually retained for payment of charges for the final month.

• TKS customer hotline Tel: 01804 857 7627

For new properties with no telephone

There is a dedicated freephone number for telephone connection to newly constructed properties:

• Tel: 0800 330 1903
  Open: 08:00-18:00 Monday to Friday
• For a checklist of all documents required: Click here then on "Checkliste" at the bottom of the page (in German)

Telephone bills

Telephone bills are invoiced monthly and must be paid within seven days. It is possible to set up a direct debit (Lastschrift) to make regular payments. Alternatively, the bill can be paid at the post office or at a bank by bank transfer (Ueberweisung). Detailed itemised bills are available on request, but are not issued automatically.

In line with Germany's general moves to encourage environmental awareness T-Com also offers customers the option of receiving telephone bills by e-mail and offers a €10 credit on the bill for those who opt for this method. Bank details are required for the direct debit instruction.

• To set up paperless billing: Click here (in German)

Telephones

T-Com has a range of telephones which can be rented or bought from T-Punkt branches. Many electrical retailers and department stores also sell telephones. Telephones bought in Germany should conform to national regulations and safety guidelines.

Telephone books

Telephone books (Telefonbuch), both private and yellow pages, are supplied free of charge by Deutsche Telekom. Main post offices often have copies of regional phone books.

• Das Telefonbuch online English version
• The yellow pages (Gelbe Seiten) (in German)
• Online business directory (Das Oertliche)

Public telephones

Coin-operated public telephones are becoming increasingly rare. Most public telephones are operated by phone cards which can be bought from many places including newspaper kiosks, newsagents and post offices.

Mobile Telephones (Handys)

T-Mobile is the biggest mobile telephone provider in Germany. It is part of Deutsche Telekom (T-Com) and now an internationally recognised name. However, there are many mobile phone service providers to choose from offering a range of packages from fixed contract to pre-paid. In order to take out a mobile phone contract, proof of identity and proof of address are usually required.

Some of the other main mobile telephone providers are:

• E-Plus
• Vodafone
• O₂

There are also many websites offering cheap deals or comparisons between mobile companies:

• Handytarife-Rechner
• Bestpreishandys

Calls from mobile telephones are comparatively expensive (call costs can be checked beforehand). To save costs it is recommended to use a pre-paid phone for international calls.

Lost or stolen mobile telephones

It is advisable to keep the PIN request activated on all mobile telephones to discourage theft.

All mobile telephones have a unique code, the IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) code. This belongs to the handset and is associated with a card, the SIM (Subscriber Identification Module) card, which holds the telephone number assigned to a customer.

• A SIM card. Holds the telephone number and memory. Access can be protected by personalising the card with a 4-digit PIN number
• An IMEI number (International Mobile Equipment Identity). This is a mobile telephone's unique identification number

The IMEI number provides protection if a phone is lost or stolen. The IMEI code is clearly shown on the paperwork at the time of purchase. Note it down and keep it separate from the telephone. Or, to find the IMEI number, enter: *#06# on the keypad.

If a mobile telephone is lost or stolen inform the network provider immediately to have the account locked and prevent anyone else from making calls from the phone. The owner is responsible for payment of any calls made until the SIM is blocked unless they have taken out insurance with the supplier.

If the phone is stolen, a declaration should also be made at the nearest police station; police will need the IMEI number.

Most mobile phone companies have a dedicated emergency contact number for reporting losses. There is also a single free 24-hour national number for reporting lost or stolen mobile telephones which will direct card holders to their service provider.

• Tel: 116 116
• Tel: +49 116 116 (there is a charge for this service when phoning from abroad)
• Das Telonfonbuch has a list of emergency numbers for lost mobile telephones: Click here (click on emergency service mobile telephone on the drop down menu under emergency numbers)

Contact details for the principal service providers:

Internet

Competition in the Internet market in Germany is intense and, like all areas of the telecoms market, there is a wide range of companies offering services and promotional rates to new customers. It is advisable to look in detail at exactly what each provider is offering for the money in terms of connection speed, data amount included and any time limits or access restrictions to the Internet. Check also for any contract restrictions which commit the customer for a minimum period of time. The principal providers are:

• Deutsche Telekom
• TKS
• Arcor
• Tiscali
• Freenet

There are also several providers offering more select services for limited numbers of subscribers:

• Snafu
• NT (in the Ruhr area)
• BaWue Net in Baden-Wuerttemburg, a non-commercial Internet provider

Broadband

High speed Internet access is best through a DSL connection and there are many options for telephone and Internet packages. Once again, T-Punkt centres and TKS Surf can offer advice. Not all areas have broadband access.

Dial-up

There are also providers of free Internet access software using special Internet dial-up numbers. The customer pays per minute online and can select the cheapest provider on a call-by-call basis.

• For more information visit Freenet (in German)

Public Internet Access

Most towns and cities have Internet cafes and Internet "hotspots" providing access via laptop (assuming it has a wireless network adapter) or short-range wireless LAN.

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation page WiFI Internet Access in Germany
• See The AngloFILE categories Computers & Technology, Cybercafes & Public Internet Access and Computers & Technology, WiFi Hotspots & Wireless Access Points

Internet telephony

Using the Internet to make telephone calls (Voice over Internet Protocol or VoIP) is gradually becoming more popular in Germany.

• For more information (in German) on VoIP: Click here or here

Further Information

• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Domestic Electricity & Home Appliances in Germany
• AngloINFO INFOrmation Page Getting Services Connected: Electricity, Gas & Water in Germany

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