Basic service provision
We are responsible for providing basic telecoms services in Switzerland, and have been mandated to do so in accordance with the current universal service licence. The purpose of the mandate is the provision of network access throughout Switzerland, primarily voice telephony and broadband Internet access. Since 2020, the guaranteed minimum transmission speed for a broadband Internet connection has been 10 Mbps (downloads) and 1 Mbps (uploads). Depending on the scope of the services purchased, the price ceiling for this service (including fixed-line telephony) is CHF 59.25 per month. As part of basic service provision, we also maintain special services for persons with disabilities (see ‘Accessibility’).
A motion by the National Council’s Transport and Telecommunications Committee (TTC), calling for an increase in the minimum speed to 80 Mbps within the universal service, is pending in the national parliament. In addition, a cantonal initiative by the canton of Ticino, calling for a nationwide high bandwidth network, has been placed on hold in parliament. The implementation of both the proposals will raise fundamental questions about the future structure of the universal service and the financing of network expansion in Switzerland. In spring 2021, the TTC therefore adopted the ‘High bandwidth strategy of the Confederation’ postulate (postulate report 21.3461), which is intended to examine the issues in greater depth and to identify a targeted implementation of a high bandwidth infrastructure in Switzerland.
In December 2021, the Federal Council opened the consultation process on the amendment of the content of the basic service provision in the Ordinance on Telecommunications Services (OTS). The main element is on the proposed increase in the minimum bandwidth from 10 Mbps today to a new 80 Mbps download. Swisscom will comment on the draft by means of a statement. Against the backdrop of the amendment of the basic service provision, the existing licence will be extended until the amended legal framework enters into force.
In general, the topics of ‘public service’ and ‘governance’ in federally owned companies are currently being addressed in various political initiatives. They are also very relevant to Swisscom’s business activities.
Unit | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Emergency calls | in thousand | 3,000 | 3,036 | 3,284 | ||||
Calls to the service for visually and hearing impaired | in thousand | 252 | 286 | 292 |