General Information » Further Reading » Telephones

National and international telecommunications are excellent. Although the telecommunications market was liberalised in Switzerland in January 1998, Swisscom is still the only company that can provide a landline connection. Once you have your connection however, you can subscribe to the services of other telecommunications providers (eg, Sunrise and Tele2) whose rates are considerably cheaper than Swisscom.

Public pay phones are available throughout Geneva. Some still accept coins but more often than not you’ll need a phone card (PTT Taxcards). These can be purchased from post offices and newsagents and are more suitable for local and national calls. If you want to make international phone calls, a cheaper option is to purchase special discount phone cards.

Mobile phones are used extensively in Geneva and the exchange of short messages using mobile phones (SMS) is something of a national pastime, especially amongst the younger generations. Coverage and GSM international roaming is very good, except perhaps at the tops of mountain peaks! Unlike landlines, you can obtain a mobile telephone number from several providers, including Swisscom, Orange, Sunrise and Tele2. Most phone shops (see Mobile Phone Providers on [p.70]) display comparative rates.

If you need a mobile telephone number in Geneva but are not a resident, the Natel Easy is a pay as you go system which does not require you to have a fixed address or residence permit (but you will have to produce ID). You can simply buy a SIM card and use it in your own phone, or purchase a package that includes a SIM card and mobile phone; calls will be charged at the local rate, which varies depending on the provider.





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Telephone Codes

The code is an important part of the telephone number when dialling a number in Switzerland. Even if you are calling a Geneva number from Geneva, the code (022) is included. If you are dialling from outside of Switzerland, you add the international code (+41) but drop the zero from the Geneva code (22). So, you would dial +41 22 999 99 99. The code for mobile phones varies depending on the provider, but the same applies; include the code if you are in Switzerland, but drop the zero for international calls.