The universal service for telecommunications
The purpose of the universal service is to guarantee that a basic telecommunications services offering is made available to all categories of the population and in all the regions of the country. These services must be affordable, reliable and must be of a certain quality. The universal service includes the public telephone service, broadband internet connections and the provision of special services for the disabled.
The universal service licence
On 15 May 2023, ComCom designated Swisscom as the holder of the universal service licence for the next period. This document lays down the obligations of the universal service licensee.
The universal service licence 2024-2031
Since January 1, 2024, the specified transmission rates for Internet access are 10/1 Mbit/s or 80/8 Mbit/s at the customer's request. Furthermore, every household is entitled to two free directory entries.
In addition to SMS transcription and relay services, and voice access to directory services, the hearing-impaired also benefit from a sign-language relay service for conversations via video telephony.
Media releases on the universal service
- Swisscom to retain universal service obligation
- Faster internet for universal service
- Faster internet in the universal service from 2020
- ComCom awards telecoms universal service licence to Swisscom