Traveling to Italy or moving thereposes no technical hurdles when it comes to mobile service The EU's uniform roaming rules apply, network coverage is strong, and SIM cards can be activated without any hassle. That said, there are differences compared to Germany, particularly in terms of rate structures, pricing, and whether it is possible to continue using a German phone number on a permanent basis. For those moving to Italy or planning a long-term stay, it is well worth taking a closer look at contracts, costs, and practical solutions.
Mobile Service: Networks and Providers in Italy
Italy has near-nationwide 4G and LTE coverage, and 5G rollout is continuing to advance in larger cities and metropolitan areas. The most important mobile providers include TIM, Vodafone Italia, WindTre and Iliad. A number of additional brands operate as network MVNOs on top of these carriers. Unlike in Germany, the market is less dominated by discount sub-brands. Instead, the network operators themselves regularly offer affordable promotional plans with generous data allowances.
Prepaid plans play a particularly prominent role in Italy. They can be used without any long-term commitment and are especially attractive for newcomers and short-term visitors. Activation typically takes place directly at a store upon presentation of a valid ID. Credit is then topped up flexibly as needed. Contract plans are also widely available and usually run for one or two years. They are particularly appealing when additional services or a new smartphone are included in the package. Overall, the value for moneystands out, as many Italian plans offer comparatively high data allowances at lower monthly costs than what is typical in Germany.
Mobile Service: Germany and Italy Compared
A direct comparison shows that the Italian mobile market is often more geared toward large data packages. Prepaid offerings are commonplace and widely accepted, whereas in Germany they are prevalent but less frequently market-leading. The rate structure in Italy tends to feel more straightforward, since the major network operators market and bundle their plans directly. German users, by contrast, are accustomed to a wide variety of third-party brands and resellers.
A German mobile contract can be used in Italy without any issues. The basis for this is the EU rule "Roam like at home," which ensures that calls, texts, and mobile data usage within the EU are billed under the same terms as in the home country. The phone automatically connects to an Italian partner network, the German SIM remains active, and the familiar phone number stays reachable. For vacations and temporary stays, this is generally more than sufficient in practice.
Permanent Use and a Phone Number Abroad
The EU roaming regulation, however, is not designed for permanent use abroad. Providers are permitted to check whether a line is used predominantly outside the home country over an extended period. If that is the case, they may take action, starting with notifications and potentially later adding surcharges for usage or other contractual measures. Those who move to Italy permanently should therefore not rely on a German contract continuing indefinitely under domestic terms.
The German phone number remains usable as long as the German contract is kept active. It functions technically in Italy as well, without any restrictions. However, transferring a German mobile number to an Italian provider is not possible. Phone numbers can only be ported within the same country. Anyone switching to an Italian plan will therefore inevitably receive a new number with an Italian area code.
Two Numbers in Parallel: A Common Solution for Expats
An Italian mobile plan makes the most sense for longer or permanent stays. Those who need a large mobile data allowance, communicate regularly with Italian contacts, and need to be reliably reachable in daily life are generally better served by a local number. The registration process is straightforward at a store, though it does require identity verification.
Important: Those moving to Italy can keep their German mobile number permanently, even if the original fixed-term contract in Germany comes to an end. The practical approach is number porting to a German prepaid plan. The porting takes place within Germany to a prepaid provider, and the existing +49 number is retained.
This prepaid SIM can then easily be taken to Italy and used there, for example for banking SMS messages, security codes, and important existing contacts. A heavily used German fixed-term contract is generally not suitable from a rate perspective for permanent use abroad , whereas a German prepaid card with low usage is in practice a stable and widely used solution among expats. In practice, many expats choose to keep their German mobile number while also using an Italian SIM card.