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TECHNOLOGY

Here’s where to find the fastest internet in Germany

Internet speed can vary greatly across the country, so if you're feeling tied down by a slow connection, perhaps it's time to consider a move.

Published: 9 December 2016 15:40 CET
Here’s where to find the fastest internet in Germany
Photo: DPA.

A new study from consumer comparison website Verivox shows how greatly average internet speeds can vary from one corner of Germany to another.

The study, seen and reported on by Spiegel on Friday, looked at 25 big cities in Germany and compared their average internet speeds in megabits per second (Mbits/s).

Karlsruhe in the southwest state of Baden-Württemberg had the absolute fastest average rate at 70 Mbits/s, while the central city of Erfurt had speeds of less than half that: 31 Mbits/s. Karlsruhe locals were also surfing about twice as fast as Munich's residents, whose speeds were on average 36 Mbits/s.

Surprisingly, startup hub Berlin fell within the lower half of the internet rates at 42 Mbits/s, and the wealthy Bavarian capital of Munich was the third worst city.

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Above: green areas indicate high internet speeds, the magenta areas indicate lower speeds.

In general, west and southwest Germany seemed to have the best rates, with Rhineland cities like Essen, Cologne and Düsseldorf all boasting rates of over 50 Mbits/s. Aside from Karlsruhe in Baden-Württemberg, Stuttgart had the third best rate of 61 Mbits/s.

In central Germany, while the two major cities of Frankfurt and Wiesbaden had comparatively speedy Internet rates of more than 60 Mbits/s, nearby Mainz was flailing behind at 40 Mbits/s.

The report also revealed how few internet provider options those outside of cities have, as well as how much more they pay compared to city dwellers. The biggest difference could be seen in the northern state of Schleswig-Holstein where city residents pay on average €306.60 per year for internet, while small town locals pay €362.88 – a €56.28 difference.

 

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LIVING IN GERMANY

Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the ‘die’ and carnival lingo

From the push to reform long-term unemployment benefits to the lingo you need to know as Carnival season kicks off, we look at the highlights of life in Germany.

Published: 14 November 2022 09:54 CET
Living in Germany: Battles over Bürgergeld, rolling the 'die' and carnival lingo

Deadlock looms as debates over Bürgergeld heat up 

Following a vote in the Bundestag on Thursday, the government’s planned reforms to long-term unemployment benefits are one step closer to becoming reality. Replacing the controversial Hartz IV system, Bürgergeld (or Citizens’ Allowance) is intended to be a fair bit easier on claimants.

Not only will the monthly payment be raised from €449 to €502, but jobseekers will also be given a grace period of two years before checks are carried out on the size of their apartment or savings of up to €60,000. The system will also move away from sanctions with a so-called “trust period” of six months, during which benefits won’t be docked at all – except in very extreme circumstances. 

Speaking in parliament, Labour Minister Hubertus Heil (SPD) said the spirit of the new system was “solidarity, trust and encouragement” and praised the fact that Bürgergeld would help people get back into the job market with funding for training and education. But not everyone is happy about the changes. In particular, politicians from the opposition CDU/CSU parties have responded with outrage at the move away from sanctions.

CDU leader Friedrich Merz has even branded the system a step towards “unconditional Basic Income” and argued that nobody will be incentivised to return to work. 

The CDU and CSU are now threatening to block the Bürgergeld legislation when it’s put to a vote in the Bundesrat on Monday. With the conservatives controlling most of the federal states – and thus most of the seats in the upper house – things could get interesting. Be sure to keep an eye out for our coverage in the coming weeks to see how the saga unfolds. 

Tweet of the week

When you first start learning German, picking the right article to use can truly be a roll of the “die” – so we’re entirely on board with this slightly unconventional way to decide whether you’re in a “der”, “die”, or “das” situation. (Warning: this may not improve your German.) 

Where is this?

Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Boris Roessler

Residents of Frankfurt am Main and the surrounding area will no doubt recognise this as the charming town of Kronberg, which is nestled at the foot of the Taunus mountains.

This atmospheric scene was snapped on Friday morning, when a drop in temperatures saw Kronberg and surrounding forests shrouded in autumnal fog.

After a decidedly warm start to November, the mercury is expected to drop into single digits over the weekend. 

Did you know?

November 11th marked the start of carnival season in Germany. But did you know that there’s a whole set of lingo to go along with the tradition? And it all depends on where you are. First of all, the celebration isn’t called the same thing everywhere. In the Rhineland, it’s usually called Karneval, while people in Bavaria or Saxony tend to call it Fasching. Those in Hesse and Saarland usually call it Fastnacht. 

And depending on where you are, there are different things to shout. The ‘fools call’ you’ll hear in Cologne is “Alaaf!” If you move away from Cologne, you’ll hear “Helau!” This is the traditional cry in the carnival strongholds of Düsseldorf and Mainz, as well as in some other German cities.

In the Swabian-Alemannic language region in the southwest of the country, people yell “Narri-Narro”, which means “I’m a fool, you’re a fool”. In Saarland at the French border, they shout “Alleh hopp!”, which is said to originate from the French language. 

Lastly, if someone offers you a Fastnachtskrapfe, say yes because it’s a jelly-filled carnival donut. And if you’re offered a Bützchen? It’s your call, but know that it’s a little kiss given to strangers!

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