Also effective 1 March 2026, Switzerland requires mobile-network operators to guarantee that emergency calls, public-service broadcasting and basic internet remain available for at least one hour during a nationwide power outage. The ordinance stipulates that 99 % of customers in every municipality must retain mobile access; restrictions may only be applied where strictly necessary to protect the grid. The reform follows supply-security debates sparked by the 2022-23 European energy crunch.
![New telecom rule obliges Swiss mobile networks to stay online during power cuts]()
For international professionals planning assignments or meetings in Switzerland, arranging the right travel documentation remains just as critical as ensuring connectivity during potential outages. VisaHQ offers a streamlined online service for securing Swiss visas and residence permits, guiding applicants through each requirement and keeping them updated in real time—see https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/ for details.
For business travellers and expatriates the rule lowers the risk of being cut off from company VPNs, travel-risk alerts or digital boarding passes during rolling blackouts. Enterprises running high-volume IoT fleets—from vehicle-sharing schemes to temporary construction sensors—gain legal assurance that connectivity will not disappear without warning. Operators Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt have installed battery or generator back-up at more than 3,400 base stations and implemented traffic-shaping algorithms that prioritise voice over data when grid power fails. The Federal Office of Communications will audit compliance annually; fines for non-compliance can reach CHF 1 million per incident. Mobility managers should nevertheless keep contingency plans—such as satellite messengers for critical staff—because the ordinance covers only the first hour of an outage.
For international professionals planning assignments or meetings in Switzerland, arranging the right travel documentation remains just as critical as ensuring connectivity during potential outages. VisaHQ offers a streamlined online service for securing Swiss visas and residence permits, guiding applicants through each requirement and keeping them updated in real time—see https://www.visahq.com/switzerland/ for details.
For business travellers and expatriates the rule lowers the risk of being cut off from company VPNs, travel-risk alerts or digital boarding passes during rolling blackouts. Enterprises running high-volume IoT fleets—from vehicle-sharing schemes to temporary construction sensors—gain legal assurance that connectivity will not disappear without warning. Operators Swisscom, Sunrise and Salt have installed battery or generator back-up at more than 3,400 base stations and implemented traffic-shaping algorithms that prioritise voice over data when grid power fails. The Federal Office of Communications will audit compliance annually; fines for non-compliance can reach CHF 1 million per incident. Mobility managers should nevertheless keep contingency plans—such as satellite messengers for critical staff—because the ordinance covers only the first hour of an outage.
