Home internet for a private flat: fibre, cable or mobile data

Last checked: 8 October 2026. Unofficial student guide, not EPFL or government advice: confirm on the linked official pages before you act. Unfamiliar abbreviation? See the Glossary.

How to get internet at home if you live in a private flat or room near EPFL or Lausanne, and how that differs from campus Wi-Fi and mobile data. Unofficial student guide, not advice on which provider to choose; prices and conditions change often, so the provider's own page on the day you order is what counts.

Key facts

• Campus Wi-Fi does not follow you home. On campus you use the epfl network (or eduroam). At home you need your own connection, a shared one included in your rent, or mobile data.
• Three options: (1) mobile data on your phone (prepaid or subscription, with hotspot), (2) a fixed home subscription over fibre, cable or copper, (3) internet already included in your room or flat.
• Already included? Some rooms and student halls include internet. If yours does, you may not need anything else.
• Availability depends on the exact address. Each provider has an official address checker. OFCOM's Broadband Atlas gives an area overview.
• Contracts usually run 12 or 24 months with a notice period (often 60 days). Read the minimum term before ordering if you will only stay one semester or one year.
• Fibre socket and OTO ID: if the flat has a fibre socket, its OTO ID (printed on the socket) is needed to activate fibre.

Which option fits

Need EPFL intranet resources from home? EPFL says to use the EPFL VPN over your home connection (any provider). See EPFL, Remote Intranet Access.

Step 1: check the flat

• Read the lease: does it say who pays internet (and electricity, heat, water)? See Electricity and utilities at move-in.
• Ask the previous tenant or the landlord which provider was used and whether there is a fibre socket in the flat.
• If there is a fibre socket, note the OTO ID printed on it. Swisscom says it is unique, like a phone number, and usually sits in the living room or hallway. Sunrise and Salt ask for it to activate fibre.
• In a shared flat, agree who signs the contract. The person who signs is responsible for the bills and the notice period.

Sources: Swisscom, Fibre optic connection at your location (OTO ID) · Sunrise, Fibre optics FAQ · Salt, Order FAQ

Step 2: check what is available at your address

Living in the commune of Lausanne? The City's Services industriels (SiL) state that their fibre network covers the commune of Lausanne, and SiL sell internet, TV and phone offers under the bli bla blo brand (partnership with netplus.ch for mobile among other products). On the bli bla blo internet page (seen 8 October 2026), advertised speeds include Internet Soft 200 Mbit/s, Internet Smart 400 Mbit/s and Internet Unlimited 1 Gbit/s. Monthly CHF prices: To verify (not printed as a simple table on that page); check the current Combo / offer price on sil-bliblablo.ch.

SiL also agreed a partnership under which Sunrise takes over their former cable network in neighbouring communes, including (City of Lausanne press release, 15 March 2024): Prilly, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Epalinges, Jouxtens-Mézery, Bottens, Morrens, Bretigny-sur-Morrens, Cugy, Froideville and Savigny. In those communes, the former SiL cable network is run by Sunrise. Source: Ville de Lausanne, communiqué (PDF).

If you live just outside Lausanne and the flat used a SiL cable connection, ask Sunrise or the building manager which provider now serves it. See Ville de Lausanne, Multimédia and SiL multimédia (bli bla blo).

West of Lausanne (SIE / TVT)? SIE SA is the energy utility for Chavannes, Crissier, Écublens and Renens. Its sister company TVT Services runs the local multimedia / fibre (FTTH) network and partners with Sunrise and Yallo for retail offers; TVT also states that Bussigny is on its network. Check address eligibility with TVT / SIE, then order through those partners or another provider that serves the address. St-Sulpice is not on SIE's four-commune list; its local internet options are To verify. Sources: SIE · SIE / TVT fibre · SIE multimedia.

Other providers also sell home internet in Vaud. This page focuses on the three national carriers, Lausanne bli bla blo, and the SIE/TVT pointer for the west-Lausanne communes above.

Step 3: compare contract terms before you sign

What each provider's official page showed on 8 October 2026. Promotions change often; check the current price on the provider site the day you order.

Sources: Swisscom, Cancel or suspend subscription (FAQ) · Swisscom, blue Internet S · Sunrise, Internet & TV subscriptions · Salt Home · Salt, Order FAQ · Salt, Contract and personal account (60-day notice) · Salt Home factsheet (PDF, Sep 2025)

Tips:

• Look at the price after any introductory period, not only the first-year price.
• If you will leave Switzerland before the minimum term ends, ask the provider in writing what you would owe. Swisscom says that if you move abroad you can cancel early with its form and a cancellation confirmation from your commune, but "fees may apply depending on the minimum contract term and the promotions selected". See Leaving Switzerland: deregister.
• Already have a contract elsewhere? Sunrise suggests asking for activation on the day your old contract ends to avoid paying twice. Salt says you must cancel the old contract yourself after ordering and suggests choosing the old contract's end date as the activation date.

Step 4: installation and lead times

Swisscom says new fibre connections to a building are, as a rule, free for the property, with Swisscom contacting owners before work. Building work and new sockets are the owner's decision; as a tenant, ask your landlord or building manager.

Sources: Swisscom, Mobile, Internet & TV for expats · Swisscom, Fibre-optic connection for your property · Sunrise, Internet & TV subscriptions FAQ · Salt, Order FAQ · Salt, OTO installation

Newcomer note: Swisscom's expat page says its Expat Service can activate services without a permanent residence permit, with a valid ID. Sunrise and Salt home signup ID / permit rules: To verify on the order form or with their customer service (bring passport or ID, and any enrolment / commune attestation you already have).

Budget and other fees

• EPFL's student budget table has no separate internet line. Phone costs sit under Other expenses (CHF 250 per month for the whole category). See EPFL, Financing your studies.
• A TV package does not change the Serafe radio/TV fee, which is billed per household. See Serafe.
• Bills usually arrive as QR-bills or eBill. See Paying bills: QR-bill and eBill.

If something goes wrong

1. Contact the provider's customer service first and keep the reference number.
2. If you cannot agree, ombudscom, the telecom dispute-resolution service, can handle disputes about billing, contract cancellation or term, change of operator and service quality. OFCOM says the fee for a consumer is CHF 20 maximum.

Source: OFCOM, When can I turn to ombudscom?

Checklist

• Confirmed whether internet is already included in your room or flat.
• Fibre socket in the flat? OTO ID noted.
• Address checked with at least two providers (and the OFCOM atlas if you want an overview).
• Minimum term and notice period fit your stay.
• Price after the introductory period noted.
• Activation date requested early enough (Salt: up to 12 weeks if no socket).
• Until it works: mobile data on your phone, campus epfl Wi-Fi during the day.
• Before leaving Switzerland: give notice in time and keep the provider's confirmation.

How to give notice and keep proof: see Cancelling phone, gym, streaming and insurance contracts.