Almost all subscribers are affected, but few of them are already aware. From March 1, the monthly price of Sunrise subscriptions will increase by approximately 1.8%. All subscriptions will pay for this, with the exception of Prepaid and QoQa, Easy Internet, Easy Internet & TV, Swiss Travel+ and We Connect for mobile data. The package which allows you to have unlimited calls and data in Switzerland will therefore go, for example, from 61.90 to 63 francs per month. And people who are already customers will not escape this (see box). Dissatisfied parties will, however, be able to assert their right to extraordinary termination by the end of February.
The company, which had already increased its prices by 4% in May 2023, announced this decision at the start of the week. She notably motivated these changes by “the continued increase in electricity prices”, estimated at 23% on average. Other factors, such as growing rental and insurance costs, were also cited by the country’s second-largest operator. Result: “the cumulative increase in the various costs is very high and, for us, well above 1.8%. But we write off most of it,” according to spokesperson Rolf Ziebold.
Could this announcement be the first in a long series affecting major Swiss operators? Not number one, anyway. When questioned, Swisscom declared that no increase was planned for the moment. However, the company has not promised to maintain this course in the medium or long term. Salt, for its part, admitted to seeing “a general increase in costs, which affects all sectors”, but did not wish to comment on a possible change in its prices.
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Clauses that create discontent
If Sunrise can increase its prices even among people who already subscribe, it is because the operator includes a clause referring to this in its contracts. A completely legal process, as long as customers are informed in advance and have the opportunity to cancel their subscription. And Sunrise is not alone. Moreover, during 2023, both Swisscom and Salt followed in Sunrise’s footsteps by unilaterally deciding on price increases. Despite the discontent and requests from the FRC, no operator has to date waived these clauses.
