And 12 million mobile customers will have to get used to it in the coming months. Something serious will change for them overnight: the network on which they make calls and surf the Internet. We’ll show you when and why.
Change for 12 million cell phone customers
The backdrop to the change is the launch of the fourth German mobile network from 1&1 last Friday. After Telekom, Vodafone and O2, it is the fourth German network to offer mobile communications via LTE and 5G. Although its number of locations is currently only in the double digits, 1&1 is now considered a mobile service provider. By partnering with O2 and Vodafone, 1&1 can offer its services directly nationwide.
50,000 SIM cards change networks daily
When the network launched, 1&1 already had more than 12 million mobile customers. 1&1 previously activated this as an operator and virtual network provider, primarily in the O2 network. You will automatically move to the 1&1 network in the coming months and years. It is expected that up to 50,000 SIM cards will change networks daily. In most cases, the data signal that 1&1 sends to you over the mobile network is sufficient. This overwrites the settings on the SIM card and the SIM card will see the 1&1 network as the home network.
What does this change in practice? For most users, nothing at first. If you don’t live or stay near one of the few antennas, you’ll still be active on the O2 network. However, calls are forwarded via the 1&1 server. There can also be differences in the appearance of other networks when roaming abroad. When it comes to roaming, 1&1 relies on a contract with Orange, which can offer different networks abroad compared to previous O2 contracts.
From summer 2024 Vodafone instead of O2 in roaming
The biggest change will come from summer 2024. 1&1 will then change the national roaming partner. Wherever you use the O2 network today, it will be Vodafone. This change also only affects customers who have already switched from 1&1 to the new network. By the end of 2025, these should be all 1&1 customers and Drillisch’s different brands. This means that the 1&1 network already has 12 million users. By the way, you don’t have to worry about your phone number. This also stays in the 1&1 network. You will only get a new number with area code 01556 if you request a new mobile call without bringing your existing phone number with you.
