Telephoning in Germany

Germany is centrally located in the heart of the European Community and is a country steeped in a rich cultural history that includes a tradition of technological innovation. For all the medieval castles and old-world charm, you will find that Germany is very much part of the modern world in the area of electronic communication and discover that there is a vast array of telephone and internet choices available to you.

Where to sign up

Most major American Military installations here in Germany have a local TKSShop where you can sign up for all your telecommunications services, including: mobile and home telephone, Internet service, and cable TV. TKS (Telepost Kabel-Service) is headquartered in Kaiserslautern and operates a Germany wide network of on-base TKSShops conveniently located in an AAFES facility.

If there is not a TKS location near you, it is possible to sign up for service with them by telephone. You can also sign up for services at Telekom stores located in most towns and cities throughout Germany. However if you do sign up for phone service off base, be prepared for your bills, correspondence and customer service to be in German. TKSSnap! is an English language telephone service that has the identical prices, calling plans and key features as Germany's primary telephone service provider - Deutsche Telekom - and is available for both on and off-base residents.

Regardless of where you sign up, make sure that you are aware of the terms and conditions of your service agreement. Many off-base service providers for example, have telephone and Internet plans that require long-term minimum contracts. These types of plans are typically not ideally suited for temporary residents or military personnel.

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 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 cents 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 popular type of service 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 analog telephones, 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 to which a total of three telephone numbers are assigned. 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 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 your complete address. Providing the name and telephone number or your home's previous tenant is not required, but can help expedite the 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 offers the convenience of having your activation letter and all your bills sent 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. There are a number of different mobile phone service providers from which to choose. Your local TKSShop, in partnership with T-Mobile, also has a wide array of mobile devices that are available pre-paid or with annual service plans. You can get a mobile 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. Be aware that placing a call to a German mobile phone is more expensive then to 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" apparatus.

Internet

Internet connectivity in Germany can range from the most basic 56K telephone dial-up connection to DSL broadband, with download speeds of up to 6000 Kbit/s per second. The Germany wide DSL network is constantly expanding. You will be surprised at the DSL bandwidth possible in even some of the smallest towns and villages in Germany. But there are areas where DSL is still not available.

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 for an analog or ISDN dial-up. TKS Cable Highspeed is the "always-on" high performance Internet service that is currently available on installations in Ramstein, Vogelweh, and Landstuhl; and at Heidelberg, Patch Barracks in Stuttgart and Spangdahlem. Cable modem service for off-base customers will be greatly expanded by the end of 2006. Your local TKSShop can give you more information on all the Internet options in your area.

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