How to get internet in your German flat before installation (short-term options)

If you’ve signed up for a permanent DSL or fibre installation, you might assume you will be online in a matter of days. In reality, the fibre or DSL installation waiting period (Schaltungstermin) typically spans two to four weeks in 2026. If your building requires complex wiring or is a brand-new build, that installation wait time can stretch even longer. This guide breaks down the best temporary internet solutions for an expat internet setup in Germany to give you interim connectivity before your permanent home internet is installed.

Easiest way: Ask your provider for a temporary internet solution

Call your German carrier before buying any hardware: Telekom offers the MagentaZuhause Schnellstart package, and Vodafone has bridging options for existing customers. If you have already ordered a fixed-line contract, this is the fastest first step for interim connectivity.

Telekom MagentaZuhause Schnellstart

Telekom (Deutsche Telekom) provides one of the smoothest interim options on the market. If you face a long delay for your main line, you can request the MagentaZuhause Schnellstart package. This kit includes:

• A portable MiFi router / mobile hotspot hardware unit.
• A dedicated prepaid SIM card.
• An immediate, complimentary data allowance voucher (typically 30 GB to 60 GB) valid until your fixed line goes live.

Telekom knows their setup takes time, so they hand you a box with a mobile hotspot and a prepaid SIM card to use for free while you wait. You can use the internet normally for basic work and browsing without watching your data counter every second.

Vodafone Germany interim solutions

Similarly, Vodafone Germany can provision temporary hardware or credit your existing mobile data plan with extra data if you are an existing mobile subscriber.

If you are already with Vodafone Germany for your phone, your first move should be calling their customer support to ask for extra data on your current mobile SIM while you wait for your home line to be connected.

Officially, they have a 500 GB ‘AlwaysOn’ package that lasts for 15 days, but they usually keep this for when an existing line completely breaks down. If you are waiting for a brand-new installation, they might still top up your mobile data plan as a gesture of goodwill, but you have to ask nicely because it’s not something they automatically owe you.

If they do say yes, it saves you from ordering a separate 5G home router for a few weeks of interim connectivity.

Best when: You already have a fixed activation date locked in, but need to cover a few weeks of waiting.

🇩🇪 Useful German phrase: “Gibt es eine Übergangslösung or ein Schnellstart-Paket bis zur Schaltung meines Anschlusses?” – Is there a temporary solution or quick-start package until my connection is activated?

A 5G home router (fixed wireless): When to use

A 5G home router (fixed wireless) is the most practical option when your installation is delayed indefinitely, and your provider won’t supply a bridging kit. It delivers a full home Wi-Fi signal across your flat by connecting directly to the nearest mobile tower, with no physical line installation required.

Use flexible options

Flex-labelled plans from Vodafone (GigaCube Flex) and O₂ allow monthly cancellation and are ideal if your installation date is confirmed within 4 weeks.

• Vodafone GigaCube Flex: The GigaCube Flex is tailored perfectly for temporary situations. You pay a one-time fee for the hardware (9.90 EUR for the device, 49.99 EUR for the connection and 9.98 EUR for shipping in June 2026), but you are only billed for the mobile data plan during months where the router is physically plugged in and transmitting data. If it sits in a drawer after your fibre is installed, you pay 0 EUR – don’t forget to unplug the device.
• O2 Home via LTE/5G Flex: If you don’t want to track your data allowance at all, O2 offers a monthly option with zero data caps (34.99 EUR/39.99 EUR monthly and 49.99 EUR once for connection, as of June 2026). You can stream and work as much as you want, and you only need to give them a 30-day notice to shut the account down.

Best when: You have a large household, stream in 4K, connect multiple smart devices, or handle heavy remote work schedules that require strong network coverage and high stability.

This is the route to take if you do not live alone, work from home on video calls, or want to watch television in high definition. A basic mobile hotspot will choke under that kind of pressure, but a dedicated router has the network coverage to keep up.

🇩🇪 Useful German phrase: “Ist dieser Router-Tarif monatlich kündbar oder hat er eine Mindestvertragslaufzeit?” – Is this router plan cancellable monthly, or does it have a minimum contract duration?

Mobile hotspot and MiFi devices: Ways to use

Your existing phone can act as a mobile hotspot immediately, with no extra hardware, but it drains your battery and disconnects everyone the moment you leave the room. Another option is to buy a standalone unlocked MiFi device on a second SIM that keeps your home connected independently of your phone.

• Choosing your network coverage

Telekom has the widest network coverage in Germany, followed by Vodafone and O₂ – check signal strength inside your flat and data plans before buying a SIM.

Tips: Cheapest mobile plans in Germany by usage.

For a quick expat internet setup, a lot of people end up using Freenet Funk. It runs on the O₂ network infrastructure and is managed entirely inside an app, so you don’t have to deal with German customer service lines. It costs roughly 0.99 EUR a day for a completely unlimited data allowance, and you can pause it from your phone at any time.

🇩🇪 Useful German phrase:  “Gibt es bei diesem Prepaid-Tarif eine Datenbegrenzung für das Hotspot-Tethering?” – Is there a data limit for hotspot tethering on this prepaid plan?

Borrowing or renting a mobile router: What's needed

An unlocked 4G/5G device and a verified German SIM card are the only two things required to borrow a router at zero cost. Before relying on a borrowed router, check that it supports the SIM size, the provider’s APN settings, and the mobile bands used in Germany. In practice, most modern unlocked LTE routers should work with German SIM cards, but it is still worth checking.

If nobody has a spare device, look into German tech rental websites that let you rent hardware month-to-month, such as miete24. You get a reliable router without dropping a lot of money on a brand-new one, and you can return it anytime.

Best when: You can get your hands on a spare device or refuse to pay full retail price for a router you only need for a few weeks.

🇩🇪 Useful German phrase:  “Kann ich diesen LTE-/5G-Router ohne SIM-Lock mit einer deutschen Prepaid- oder Daten-SIM nutzen?” – Can I use this unlocked LTE/5G router with a German prepaid or data SIM?

Summary strategy: The recommended action plan

Most expats in Germany need 2–4 weeks of interim connectivity – start by calling your carrier to request a free Schnellstart kit before ordering paid hardware.

• Talk to your provider first: Call the German carrier handling your line. Demand an Übergangslösung or a Schnellstart kit so you do not have to pay out of pocket for their installation wait time.
• Use a flexible prepaid card: If your gap is only 7 to 14 days, don’t bother with heavy hardware. Get a flexible prepaid SIM card, do the ID verification immediately, and run a mobile hotspot from your phone or a borrowed MiFi.
• Get a flexible 5G router: If your line is delayed by more than a month, order a monthly-cancellable 5G home router (fixed wireless) like the Vodafone GigaCube Flex.

After securing a stable connection, you can start sending money from Germany quickly and at great rates. Check our online service Profee if you want to make transfers with a complete peace of mind.

FAQ about temporary internet solutions in Germany