Telekom throttling: Consumer advocates warn of unjust practices
Telekom throttling: Consumer advocates warn of unjust practices
Telekom causes resentment for contract customers
Stand:
The current practice of Deutsche Telekom, the throttling of data connections despite supposedly unlimited tariffs, increasingly causes resentment among customers. Consumer advocates are alarmed and criticize the practices of the provider, especially in the so-called "Unlimited" tariffs, who are no longer promising what they advertise.
background of the throttle practices
The German mobile phone market has developed strongly in the past decades. At a time when numerous providers vouch for the favor of customers, legal regulations within the EU have contributed to ensuring the neutrality and stability of the networks. Nevertheless, the need to protect the network infrastructure leads to the fact that providers such as Telekom have to do throttles to avoid overloading.
who is affected?
The particularly affected are customers who have paid for "Unlimited" tariffs and who are now confronted with throttles. In the context of contractual terms, throttling is also pointed out, especially when using SIM cards in routers. These restrictions are not new, but have intensified since April 1, 2025, which has annoyed many customers. Telekom recommends using several SIM cards to avoid the network load, which is not a real solution for users.
criticism of consumer advocates
The consumer protection organization VZBV has sharply criticized Telekom and speaks of possible violations of network neutrality. The accusation is that special measures for throttling create an artificial scarcity of bandwidth, which harms smaller internet service providers and private customers in particular. In addition, customers in various forums report increased problems with slow loading times and inadequate data transmission, in particular at peak times.
rights of customers
customers who suffer from these conditions have several options, including the exercise of a special right of termination if the contractually agreed services are not provided. Experts advise those affected to set a deadline for the provider to remedy the problems before legal action is initiated. In addition, compensation claims can be asserted if there are continuing disorders.