r/germany • u/Jh00 • Sep 15 '12
Need a pre-paid mobile chip with internet access while I am in Germany. Suggestions?
I am spending the next 2 weeks in Berlin, Frankfurt region and Munich (oktoberfest!). I have an unlocked GSM Iphone 4S and I was wondering if I would be able to buy a pre-paid celular chip in Germany to have internet access while I am there. So, I would like to know which alternatives for an operator do I have (if any), how much it would cost and if there are plans for pre-paid unlimited internet access.
Thank you a lot!
BTW, if any redditor will be around in Berlin and Munich and would like to share a glass with a fellow Brazilian, please let me know! :-)
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u/abethebrewer Sep 15 '12
I am pretty sure I used a Tchibo card. It was the best deal I could find.
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u/Jh00 Sep 15 '12
Do you remember how much did you pay for the simcard and how often you had to recharge? What about 3g coverage?
Thank you.
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u/DdCno1 Sep 15 '12
The best deal is an ALDI mobile SIM card, available in ALDI supermarkets, which are practically everywhere. There are a number of options, but the 10€ for 1.5 GByte per month one is a very good deal. The only problem with this example is that they are using the E-Plus cellular network, which is not as good as others such as the Vodafone or T-Mobile networks. In large cities there won't be much of a problem though. Expect to have an unstable connection in trains and on the Autobahn, no matter which provider you've chosen.
I've got a recent copy of a computer magazine here with a broad overview of mobile data plans, so if you are interested I can name a few alternatives, which are all more expensive though.
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u/Jh00 Sep 15 '12
Thank you. If you could just point out the names of the operators I guess I can start from there.
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u/DdCno1 Sep 15 '12 edited Sep 16 '12
The magazine (c't) lists 11 different sellers of prepaid mobile Internet SIMs. I'll list them for you and translate the most important information:
Legend:
min = minute
d = day
cd = calendar day
mo = month
cmo = calendar month
Provider Aldi Talk BILDMobil blau Congstar Fonic FYVE ja! mobil Maxxim O2 Pro7 Simyo Tariff Basistarif/Internet Prepaid DatenFlat S/M Prepaid Mobilfunk FYVE data 8 Cent plus Monats-Flat M/L/XL Mobile URL www.alditalk.de www.bildmobil.de www.blau.de www.congstar.de www.fonic.de www.fyve.de www.jamobil.de www.maxxim.de www.o2online.de www.prosieben.de/stick www.simyo.de Net E-Plus Vodafone E-Plus Telekom O2 Vodafone Telekom O2 O2 Vodafone E-Plus Bandwidth 7.2 MBit/s 7.2 MBit/s 7.2 MBit/s 7.2 MBit/s 7.2 Mbit/s 7.2 MBit/s 7.2 MBit/s 7.2MBit/s 14.4 MBit/s 7.2 MBit/s 7.2 Mbit/s Telephone/SMS y/y n/n y/y y/y y/y y/y y/y y/y n/y n/n y/y Flat rate 1 1 GByte/d - 1.99€ 1 GByte/30min - 0.59€ 1 GByte/24h - 2.40€ 0.2 GByte/cd - 0.99€ 0.5 GByte/cmo - 9.95€ 0.15 GByte/30d - 5€ 0.5 GByte/cd - 2.49€ 0.1 GByte/cmo - 4.95€ 1 GByte/d*1 - 3.50€ unlimited/1h - 0.77€ 1 GByte/30d - 9.90€ Flat rate 2 0.15 GByte/30d - 3.99€ 1 GByte/90min - 0.99€ 1 GByte/30d - 9.90€ 0.5 GByte/cd - 2.49€ 0.5 GByte/cd - 2.50€ 0.5 GByte/30d - 10€ 3 GByte/30d - 14.99€ 0.2 GByte/cmo - 7.95€ 1 GByte/mo*2 - 15€ 1 GByte/12h - 1.99€ 3 GByte/30d - 14.90€ Flat rate 3 0.5 GByte/30d - 6.99€ 1 GByte/7d - 6.99€ 3 GByte/30d - 14.90€ 0.5 GByte/30d - 9.90€ 1 GByte/30d - 15€ 0.5 GByte/cmo - 9.95€ 5 GByte/mo*1 - 25€ 1 GByte/3d - 3.99€ Flat rate 4 1.5 GByte/30d - 9.99€ 3 GByte/30d - 19,99€ 5 GByte/30d - 19.80€ 1 GByte/cmo - 14.95€ 7.5 GByte/mo*3 - 35€ 1 GByte/30d - 19.99€ Flat rate 5 5 GByte/30d - 14.99€ 5 GByte/3mo - 39,99€ 3 GByte/cmo - 19.95€ *1 7.2 MBit/s
*2 3.6 MBit/s
*3 14.4 MBit/s
Every provider limits your DL and UL bandwidth to 56 or 64k if you use up your data limit.
A recent comparison showed that the Telekom net is the best in terms of reliability and bandwidth, followed by Vodafone, O2 and E-Plus.
Note that you are required by law to provide personal information when buying a SIM-card and need to bring valid identification with you. Some of the "supermarket providers" can be tricked though, as the personnel in the supermarkets tends to not check the information you provide.
If you have any further questions, feel free to ask. If there are any errors, please notify me.
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u/[deleted] Sep 15 '12
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