Hi Julian,

I presume when you say cable you mean TV. The choice will depend which channels you want/need and what connections are available where you live.

Basically the choice is:

ADSL providers that also have TV service: Swisscom, Orange, Sunrise

Cable tv providers that also have internet service: Naxoo+Cablecom

Bear in mind that:

- with the ADSL providers you need Swisscom (the former Swiss monopole) a telephone subscription, which is something you may or may not want; on the other hand you can get a 4play bundle (telephone, tv, internet and mobile) and save some money

- the "téléreseau colectif" that is available in some buildings is an analogic subscription to Naxoo, and if you switch to a different provider you may end paying both subscriptions

In my case, I use the internet services of Cablecom, as "téléreseau" is available where I live. Regarding the tv, the basic "téléreseau" is more than enough for me as I barely watch any tv, and when I do it, I use zatoo or teleboy (aplications to watch tv free and legally over the internet).

Pasqual

Hi Pasqual,

Thaks for your answer! I am going to ask about the "teléreseau" in my new building.

Is it true that in Swiss everyone is obliged to pay a radio and tv tax to use the swiss airwaves?

Julian.

Hi Julian,

there is a Swiss tv and radio tax, that everyone with a radio, tv set, or computer with internet access must annually pay. The aim of that tax is not to pay for the use of the airwaves, but to sustain the public Swiss radio and tv channels (RTS, SF, RSI). As result of that, those channels are almost free of commercials and they are available on any distribution platform: adsltv, cable tv, terrestial fta, satellite, internet (zatoo,teleboy).

There is a similar tax in other European countries such as Germany, France or UK.

Pasqual

Do you know of anything where you can get a short subscription (or none) for 3 months or so?

I'm not fully sure, but I think a short subscription is quite unusal in Switzerland; as such I don't think it is commercially available. You should directly check with the providers it there is a legal loophole for this, meaning, if you leave the country in 3 months, they may agree to a one year subscription that will be cancelled with no penalty when you leave the country, be it 3 months, a shorter period or longer.

However, if you plan to stay in the country and you want to an Internet service only for a short time, you should consider a prepaid 3G connection.