- APO
- Edelweiss Lodge
- Higher Education
- Passports in Germany
- Radio & TV in Germany
- Sato Travel
- Telephone & Internet Service in Germany
- TRICARE
Kaiserslautern Area
Area Installations
TELEPHONE AND INTERNET SERVICE IN GERMANY
Germany is very well connected in the area of personal telecommunications. There are many telephone, internet and wireless providers and service options to choose from, but as familiar as these services are, be aware that there are some Germany-specific differences. The more you know, the easier it will be to get exactly what you are looking for, and you'll be able to avoid costly misunderstandings.
Where to sign up
You'll find that most major US military installations here in Germany have a local TKSShop where you can sign up for English telecommunications services including: mobile and home telephone, Internet and cable TV. TKS (Telepost Kabel-Service) is headquartered in Kaiserslautern and operates a Germany wide network of TKSShops conveniently located in an AAFES facility near you. TKS English phone and Internet services are available both on-post and off-post.
Services can also be obtained at Telekom stores located in most cities and larger towns. Unfortunately most German service providers do not offer you much, if any, English language documentation or support. English billing, customer care, and technical support on the other hand are standard TKS features and nearly all of their calling plans and key features are exactly the same as Deutsche Telekom's.
PHONE SERVICES: ANALOG OR ISDN
There are two general types of phone service in Germany: a "standard" analog phone service, and ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network). Each type of phone service has similar tariffs that allow you to choose the best plan for your type of use. Discounted local and long distance calling plans are available. You can get long distance calls any time of the day to the USA for less then 3 cent a minute for example and features such as caller-ID, call forwarding and voice-mail are standard with either service.
An analog phone service is the most familiar to Americans and is also the most common here in Germany. With analog phone service, you get one number and one telephone line and a standard 56K dial-up modem is used to access the web. Regular touch-tone phones, answering and fax machines from the USA normally can be used when coupled with a compatible German TAE (telephone jack) to USA adapter. Please note that it is illegal to use most cordless telephone products from the USA here in Germany! Buy a phone in Germany to assure that the device complies with local radio-frequency regulations and safety guidelines.
ISDN uses digital network technology to add even more features to your service. The primary benefit is having two digital phone lines and three assignable telephone numbers. Internet connectivity is somewhat enhanced. However the ISDN connection speed of 64/128 Kbit/s is easily outpaced by even the slowest German DSL connection. ISDN compatible telephones and modems are required to make the most of an ISDN service and are typically more expensive than analog devices with similar features. Depending on your needs and the layout of your home, you may need to have special wiring and ISDN telephone jacks installed at an additional expense.
Analog is by far the easiest to use. ISDN costs more and requires special devices but may be ideal for larger households or for a home office. If internet speed is what you need, then a broadband DSL or a cable modem connection, where available, is the best way to surf the web. You can get these services with either an analog or ISDN telephone line, and the separate Internet connection will allow you to talk and surf simultaneously.
Details That Make a Difference
When signing up for your telephone, make sure that you know the complete address. Providing the name and telephone number of your home's previous tenant is not required, but can help expedite the activation process. Do request a fully itemized bill at the time of sign up as this is not always the default for many German service providers. It can take anywhere between 3 to 10 business days for your services to be activated so it is best to sign up as soon as you can. Your telephone number and date of activation will be confirmed in writing. TKS can offer you the convenience of delivering your activation letter and all your bills to your private Email address rather then your APO box. Also note that in many cases a technician may require access to your home to activate your telephone and additional installation charges may apply. If you have several German TAE telephone outlets in your house, do not be surprised if only one gets activated. The internal wiring of your home is not part of the standard German service agreement so you will incur extra charges if you request technical service. Technician fees are not cheap in Germany, so be sure to ask for the rates beforehand.
Mobile phones
Europe is in the forefront of mobile telephony and there are several wireless carriers in Germany. Your local TKSShop also has a wide array of mobile devices that are available prepaid or with annual service plans. You can get a multi-frequency phone that is usable throughout most of the world including the USA. However, American mobile phones that do not utilize GSM technology will not function in Germany or anywhere outside of the USA. You will not be charged for your incoming calls, regardless of their origin, while roaming within Germany. The caller picks-up the total cost of the call. For this reason, calling a mobile phone is much more expensive then calling a residential telephone. It is against the law in Germany to use a mobile phone while driving if you don't have some sort of "hands-free" device.
Internet
Internet connectivity can range from the most basic 56K telephone dial-up connection to DSL broadband, with download speeds of 1000 to 6000 Kbit/s commonly available. DSL is widely available but there are still areas that may not have the service.
Aside from high performance, DSL will afford you a significant long-term cost benefit: an unlimited Internet flat rate. There are currently no unlimited flat rates available with dial-up. Another broadband option with a flat rate is TKS Cable Highspeed, which is an "always-on" high performance cable-modem service that is currently available on many U.S. installations. Your local TKSShop can give you more information on all of the Internet options in your area.
