Excess Data Consumption in Major Provider Contracts Is Over Six Times More Than Actual Use - Large service providers' contract data allowances far surpass consumers' actual usage by a factor of six.
In a recent analysis, it has been revealed that the data volumes included in major German telecommunications provider contracts significantly outpace the actual usage of customers. According to Verivox telecommunications expert Jörg Schamberg, this trend has been ongoing for several years, with data budgets in tariffs increasing disproportionately[1].
The data shows that while providers offer plans averaging around 72 GB per month, customers typically consume only approximately 11.7 GB monthly. This results in a considerable gap of roughly sixfold between the offered data volumes and actual usage[1]. This disparity suggests that providers may be setting high data allowances in contracts as a marketing strategy or buffer, rather than reflecting typical consumer demand.
The analysis further reveals that the data volume included in major provider contracts has increased by 60% compared to the previous year, with the included data volume in 2024 reaching nearly 45 GB[2]. This increase in data volume and pricing is a contributing factor to the additional price increases in the market.
The high-geared tariff portfolio of major providers is seen as a strategic move to increase prices. By offering high data plans, providers aim to make these tariffs more expensive, as the more high-speed volume in a tariff, the more it can be sold[2]. This high-geared tariff portfolio contributes to additional price increases in the market.
It is important to note that Germany's telecom infrastructure is still modernizing, and truly unlimited data plans are rare and expensive. Major providers such as Telekom and o2 offer uncapped or very high data plans tied to long-term contracts, but typical consumption remains much lower[2]. This disparity can be understood as providers offering generous data limits to attract customers or accommodate peak usage without throttling, despite most users not reaching those high volumes.
In conclusion, the data shows that the data volumes in major German provider contracts outpace the actual usage of customers, contributing to additional price increases in the market. This trend, driven by strategic moves from providers to offer high data plans, is a key factor in the ongoing discussion about telecommunications pricing in Germany.
[1] Verivox telecommunications expert Jörg Schamberg stated that for years, the data budgets of tariffs have been increasing disproportionately. [2] Providers know that most customers will only partially use the volume included in their contracts. The increase in data budgets is much faster than actual customer data usage. The strategic calculation behind this is that the more data volume in a tariff, the more expensive it can be sold. The high-geared tariff portfolio of major providers contributes to additional price increases in the market. This increase in data volume and pricing is a factor contributing to additional price increases in the market. In 2024, the included data volume in major provider contracts reached nearly 45 GB. The data volume included in major provider contracts has increased by 60% compared to the previous year.
- The community policy should address the issue of excessive employment of data allowances in telecommunications contracts, ensuring fair pricing and accurate representation of customer usage.
- The employment policy within the telecommunications industry should aim to balance data budgets in tariffs with the actual data consumption of customers, considering the impact on finance, market competition, and consumer satisfaction.
