DSL internet in Germany

DSL sends internet data through the copper telephone pair connected to your home. A compatible router connects to the telephone socket and creates your home Wi-Fi network. Using the telephone line for DSL does not necessarily mean that you need an active voice service.

ADSL and VDSL

ADSL is an older form of DSL and generally provides a lower download speed. VDSL uses newer equipment and is associated with the faster DSL plans commonly advertised in Germany. With VDSL, part of the route may use fibre before the connection completes its final stretch over copper.

Line length, local equipment and wiring inside the building can affect the result. Two homes in the same neighbourhood may therefore qualify for different speeds. That is why any ADSL or VDSL Germany comparison must begin with the exact installation address.

The reviewed DSL home internet Germany plans come from five providers:

• congstar Home 100 Flex and Home 250 Flex advertise 100/40 and 250/40 Mbit/s. They cost €36 and €42 per month respectively, have flexible terms and show no activation charge.
• Telekom MagentaZuhause DSL plans cover 16/2.4, 50/20, 100/40 and 250/40 Mbit/s. Published list prices run from €38.95 to €56.95 per month, with 24-month terms.
• Vodafone GigaZuhause DSL plans offer advertised downloads of 16, 50, 100 and 250 Mbit/s. The reviewed plans have 24-month terms and include a German landline.
• O2 Home DSL plans advertise 50/20, 100/40 and 250/40 Mbit/s, with promotional pricing and 24-month terms.
• 1&1 DSL plans cover 16/2.4, 50/20, 100/40 and 250/40 Mbit/s. Their published list prices range from €37.99 to €47.99 per month.

Introductory prices

A promotional price can make the first months less expensive without reducing the later contractual rate. For example, Vodafone GigaZuhause 250 DSL is advertised at €19.99 per month before rising to €49.99 from month 10. Its activation fee is €49.99.

The reviewed O2 Home DSL plans start at €19.99, €24.99 or €29.99 per month, depending on speed. Their prices rise to €34.99, €39.99 or €44.99 from month 13, with a €9.99 activation fee.

One-off costs

The two reviewed congstar Flex plans show no activation charge. The reviewed 1&1 plans have a €49.95 activation fee. We could not verify an activation fee for the reviewed Telekom plans, so confirm it with the provider alongside router, delivery and installation costs.

Download speed affects activities such as loading websites, streaming and receiving large files. Upload speed matters when you send files, join video calls, back up data or broadcast content.

The reviewed DSL plans advertise downloads from 16 to 250 Mbit/s. Where an upload figure is published, it ranges from 2.4 to 40 Mbit/s. Upload speeds are not listed for the reviewed Vodafone 16, 50 and 100 DSL plans, so check those figures directly with the provider.

Your suitable speed depends on how many people and devices use the connection at once. A household using several streams, work calls and downloads simultaneously generally needs more capacity than one person browsing and sending email. Our guide to internet speed in Germany explains how to assess your needs.

DSL is a fixed-line option that uses the existing telephone connection into the home. Its practical advantage is that it may be offered at an address where another fixed technology is not. Its limitation is that the achievable performance is closely tied to the condition and length of the copper line.

Fibre internet in Germany carries data over fibre-optic lines and does not rely on copper for the connection into the home. It can be an attractive long-term option where the building is connected, but availability remains address-specific.

Cable internet in Germany uses the building’s television cable network. It may provide a different choice of speeds and providers, but the property must have compatible cable infrastructure. Compare the technologies available at your exact address rather than choosing DSL, fibre or cable by headline speed alone.