- Donated money: Germans book too much data volume for mobile phones
If you're looking to book a regular mobile plan with Deutsche Telekom and visit their website, you'll currently see five offers at first glance. The cheapest one costs just under 25 euros per month and includes 5 GB of data. The next one costs 40 euros and offers 20 GB. The fourth plan is marked as a "recommendation" and costs just under 60 euros per month for 80 GB of data. This sums up the current situation quite well.
Firstly, all plans are significantly more expensive compared to what discount providers offer. Secondly, there's currently no standard plan that caters to the average German's needs. According to recent data from the Federal Network Agency (7.2 GB) and the Association of Telecommunications and Media Companies (VATM, 6.6 GB), an average mobile user needs around 7 GB per month for browsing, listening to music, and watching short videos. Therefore, the first plan is too small, and the second one is far too large.
Germans book 18 GB, but only use 7
Verivox has analyzed how the offers from major network providers have changed over the past five years. While the average available data volume in offered plans has increased by 370%, the actual consumption of German citizens has only risen by 164%. This shows a trend among network providers to offer more data instead of lowering prices.
On the other hand, uninformed customers tend to choose a middle-of-the-road product. Verivox's numbers reflect this: "Mobile customers currently use an average of around 7 GB of mobile data," says Verivox CEO Daniel Puschmann. "However, our customers booked an average of 18 GB from the major providers in the first half of 2024."
This could also be due to the high costs of purchasing additional data when it runs out in a month, for example, while on vacation. However, Germans should be more frugal in this regard, as mobile data is particularly expensive in Germany compared to other countries. According to a 2023 analysis by the British comparison portal Cable.co.uk, Germany ranks 163rd with an average of almost 2 euros per GB. In Italy (rank 2), it costs an average of only 8 cents, and in France, it's 18 cents.
A normal mobile plan should not cost more than 10 euros
For years, consumer advocates have recommended that a normal mobile plan in Germany should not cost more than 10 euros. Deutsche Telekom seems to agree, as it offers a discount plan with Fraenk for 10 euros. Currently, this plan includes 12 GB, which is sufficient for most users. The only downside is that you can't make calls outside the EU, UK, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, and Switzerland.
However, there are plenty of affordable alternatives among discount plans. For example, O2 Telefónica offers 10 GB for well under 10 euros. While the download speed is often slower than with major providers like Vodafone and Telekom, it's usually sufficient, with speeds of 25 to 50 Mbit/s.
How much data do I really need?
Before checking out, make sure to verify your actual data usage on your phone. On Android devices, you can find this under "Settings" -> "Connections" -> "Data Usage". On iPhones, you'll find this under "Settings" -> "Mobile Data". Otherwise, 10 GB should be more than enough for most people, considering the average 7 GB (as mentioned earlier) plus a bit of extra.
The savings can be significant, especially if you're currently with one of the major network providers. "The potential savings from switching mobile plans from a network provider to a discount provider is around 200 euros per year," says Verivox CEO Puschmann.
Two pitfalls: Data automation and price increase after 24 months
When switching mobile plans, there are two things to keep in mind. First, choose a plan without data automation - or turn it off immediately after booking (if possible). Otherwise, it usually gets expensive if you exceed the agreed data volume.
Second, a new trend is emerging: About a third of plans are now more expensive after the minimum term (often 24 months). The provider's hope is that the customer won't notice. So, it's better to choose a different plan or set a reminder to switch again. Finally, it's always worth checking the contract details to ensure the plan provides everything you need.
The tariff for mobile telephony offered by Deutsche Telekom's discount plan with Fraenk is 10 euros, providing 12 GB of data, which is often sufficient for most users. However, some affordable alternatives among discount plans, such as O2 Telefónica's 10 GB for less than 10 euros, may provide slower download speeds but can still meet most users' needs.
