How to switch internet provider in Luxembourg in 2026: complete step-by-step guide
Switching internet provider in Luxembourg is simpler than you think — and often very financially rewarding. However, the process has important specificities compared to France or Belgium: you must manage your own cancellation with your current operator, early termination penalties can be significant, and your legal rights when a contract is modified are frequently unknown. This complete guide covers everything: the 5 steps to switch, real timelines, your rights under the Luxembourg Law of 17 December 2021 and ILR regulations, number portability, cases where you can terminate without fees, and how to avoid any connection outage during the transition.
Ready to switch? Start by comparing
Before cancelling, compare offers available at your address — current prices, ongoing promotions, 24-month total cost.
When should you switch internet provider in Luxembourg?
Switching providers is worth considering in five main situations: you’re paying above current market rates and your commitment has expired; your connection quality is consistently poor with speeds significantly below contractual levels; you’re moving to a new address; your operator has modified contract conditions to your disadvantage (triggering a right to terminate without fees); or a better technology (e.g. FTTH fibre) has recently become available at your address. Check our guide to internet providers in Luxembourg and the fibre coverage map to assess your options.
Here are the actual reasons for switching operator that we observe among Switchr users going through our internet comparator (in order of importance): (1) A price increase after the initial 24-month commitment period, (2) A move, (3) An issue experienced with the operator’s customer service, and (4) A unilateral change to contractual terms (particularly pricing). In all these cases, Switchr users prefer to find a new operator and benefit from a new welcome offer, even if it means committing to another 24-month contract.
Before you start: the 4 things to check
Your commitment end date
Find your exact 24-month end date on your original contract, invoices or online account. If your commitment has expired without renegotiation, your contract has likely been tacitly renewed — you can cancel with one month’s notice, no penalties.
Eligibility of your address for available offers
Not all operators cover every address in Luxembourg. Verify on the future operator’s website (or via myilr.lu) that your address is eligible for the chosen offer and the technology advertised (FTTH, cable, DSL). Check our fibre eligibility tool.
Whether you want to keep your fixed phone number
If you have an active fixed phone number via your current box and want to keep it, mention this explicitly when subscribing with the new operator. Portability is free but must be explicitly requested — it is not automatic.
Available offers and their real 24-month total cost
Compare offers at your address by calculating the total cost over 24 months (monthly rate × 24 + modem + one-off fees). Use our comparison tool which integrates these calculations automatically.
→ Total cost over 24 months = (35 × 6) + (70 × 18) = 210 + 1,260 = €1,470
Offer B: €52/month for 24 months + €1 modem
→ Total cost over 24 months = (52 × 24) + 1 = €1,249
The promotional offer costs €221 more over 24 months despite a lower entry price.
The 5 steps to switch internet provider in Luxembourg
Key difference from France and Belgium: in Luxembourg, your new operator generally does not manage your cancellation with your old provider. Unlike French practice where the new operator handles everything, you must carry out the cancellation yourself with your current operator. This is one of the key specificities of the Luxembourg market.
Compare and choose your new offer
Start by comparing offers available at your address on our internet comparison tool. Calculate the total cost over 24 months for each offer. Check installation lead times and ask about the availability of a temporary 4G router to avoid any outage.
Subscribe to your new plan
Subscribe online, in store or by phone with the new operator. Explicitly mention if you want to keep your fixed phone number (portability). Do not cancel your old subscription before your new one is confirmed with a fixed installation date — you could be left without internet for several weeks.
Cancel your old subscription
Write a cancellation letter or email to your current operator including your name, address, customer number, desired termination date, and reason. Send by registered post with acknowledgement of receipt — the safest way to have proof. Some operators also accept online or in-store cancellation.
Coordinate transition dates
Aim to have the new service activated as close as possible to (or before) the old service termination. If a gap is unavoidable, ask your new operator for a temporary 4G router — POST, Orange and Tango usually offer this (often free or with a refundable deposit of ~€49–50).
Return equipment and close your account
Once your new connection is active, return all rented equipment to your old operator (router, TV decoder if applicable, accessories) within the stated deadline (typically 2–4 weeks). Keep proof of return. Check your final invoice carefully for any unexpected charges.
Which offer is waiting for you? Compare available offers at your address before starting the process. Compare internet offers →
Terminating without fees during the commitment: your legal rights
Contrary to popular belief, it is sometimes possible to terminate your internet contract before the 24-month end without paying a penalty. The Law of 17 December 2021 on electronic communications networks and services and the rights published on myilr.lu protect Luxembourg consumers in several well-defined cases.
Operator modifies contract conditions to your disadvantage
If your operator modifies contractual conditions unfavourably — price increase, guaranteed speed reduction, changes to cancellation terms — it must notify you at least one month in advance. You then have the right to terminate without fees within one month of notification. Only subsidised equipment you have kept may attract residual charges, capped at their prorated residual value.
Source: Luxembourg Government — ILR press conference, 12 June 2024.
Actual speeds significantly below contractual levels
If you experience a significant, persistent or frequent gap between actual internet performance and contractual speeds, you have the right to terminate without fees. Document speed measurements (via checkmynet.lu), report the issue in writing to your operator and keep their response. If unresolved, invoke this termination right or contact ILR mediation.
Source: myilr.lu — Termination of contract, end users’ rights.
End of commitment and tacit renewal
Beyond the minimum engagement period (24 months), you can cancel at any time with one month’s notice — no penalty. Your operator must inform you of your commitment end date at least one month in advance and advise you of cancellation procedures.
Source: myilr.lu — Your contract, tacit renewal and cancellation.
14-day right of withdrawal (new subscriptions)
If you recently subscribed to a new internet contract remotely (online or by phone) or off-premises, you have a 14-calendar-day right of withdrawal from the date of conclusion, without giving any reason. This extends to 12 months if the operator fails to inform you of this right.
Source: Guichet.lu — Right of withdrawal after conclusion of a distance contract.
How to assert your rights: in the case of a legally protected termination, send a registered letter to your operator explicitly citing the legal basis and referencing the Law of 17 December 2021 or the rights published on myilr.lu. If the operator refuses, submit a free mediation request to the ILR (myilr.lu). Over 80% of disputes are resolved amicably through this process.
Early termination penalties: what you need to know
If you cancel outside the legal termination cases, early termination fees will likely apply — generally corresponding to remaining monthly instalments or a fraction thereof, as detailed in your contract. These can be high in the first months but more manageable near the end of the 24-month commitment.
Payback period = Early termination fee ÷ Monthly saving
Example: €20/month saving, €300 termination fee
→ 300 ÷ 20 = 15-month payback
→ If you have over 15 months remaining, switching is financially worthwhile even after the penalty.
Before paying any early termination fees, check whether you qualify for a free termination under one of the legal cases above. If disputed, contest in writing and use ILR mediation before making any payment.
Keeping your fixed phone number: portability
If your internet subscription includes a fixed phone number (via VoIP/VoBB), you can keep it free of charge when changing operator. Number portability is guaranteed by the ILR.
How to request portability
- Mention your wish to keep your number when subscribing with the new operator
- Provide your current fixed number and contract details
- The new operator handles the porting process
- Portability is free for the consumer
- Porting takes a maximum of 1 working day once all conditions are met
Points to watch
- Requesting portability does not automatically cancel your old contract obligations
- Your old operator continues service until the new one activates
- After cancellation, you have one month to port your number to another operator
- If you don’t request portability at subscription, you will lose your number
Source: ILR — Number portability — conditions, procedures and guaranteed timelines.
Switching without a connection outage
The Law of 17 December 2021 guarantees that connection outages during a provider switch must not exceed 1 working day. In practice, to avoid any outage entirely, coordinate dates carefully and use the strategies below.
Date coordination (recommended method)
Activate the new service before or on the same day as terminating the old one. Your old operator is legally required to continue service until the new one activates. You may pay a few overlapping days, but this eliminates any outage risk.
Request a temporary 4G router
POST, Orange and Tango offer temporary 4G routers from the day of or day after signing, usually free or with a refundable deposit (~€49–50). Ask for this option at subscription — it is not always offered automatically. Eltrona guarantees installation within 6 working days of signing.
Mobile hotspot as backup
If a short gap is unavoidable, use your smartphone’s hotspot as a backup. Consider temporarily upgrading to a no-contract mobile plan with more data for the transition period.
If your new connection requires a FTTH fibre installation by a technician, allow 2 to 4 weeks between signing and actual installation. Clarify this lead time at subscription to coordinate your cancellation correctly. Our guide on fibre installation in Luxembourg details the steps to anticipate.
Returning equipment and closing your account
Returning equipment to your former operator is a step often overlooked but financially significant — unreturned equipment is systematically billed.
Equipment to return
Depending on your subscription: modem/router (usually FRITZ!Box), TV decoder if applicable, cables and accessories provided by the operator, SIM card from a temporary 4G router. Do not return equipment you purchased yourself.
Return deadlines and procedure
Each operator sets its own deadline — typically 2 to 4 weeks after effective cancellation. Return in store or by registered post and keep proof of return. If returning by post, photograph the equipment before sending.
Final invoice and verification
Your final invoice should cover only days used in the last billing period plus any legitimate cancellation fees. Contest any unexpected charges in writing and use ILR mediation if needed.
In the event of a dispute about equipment return, the burden of proof lies with the consumer. Without a receipt or in-store acknowledgement, the operator may bill the equipment as unreturned. Keep all return proof for at least 6 months after cancellation.
In case of dispute: free ILR mediation
If you have a dispute with your internet provider — contested fees, refusal of a fee-free cancellation, billing issues, unreturned deposits — you have a free and effective recourse: the ILR’s free mediation service.
How to submit a mediation request
Prerequisite: send a written complaint to your operator first and not receive a satisfactory response. Then submit a mediation request via myilr.lu or by post to the ILR (L-2922 Luxembourg). The service is entirely free for consumers.
Effectiveness of mediation
The ILR handled 126 mediation requests in 2023 — a 15% decrease from 148 in 2022. Over 80% of disputes are resolved amicably. The most common disputes involve billing and cancellation conditions. The procedure typically takes a few weeks.
What you should never pay
The ILR explicitly states: no provider-change fee may be charged to you outside the legitimate early termination conditions of your contract. If billed for « portability fees » or « provider change fees » beyond what your contract provides, do not pay — contest in writing and contact the ILR.
ILR reminder: no provider-change fee may be charged. The only legitimate fees are early termination fees provided in your original contract — and only if none of the free-termination rights described in section 4 apply to your situation.
Source: ILR — Consumer protection, Law of 17 December 2021 on electronic communications networks and services.
Find the best offer at your address before switching
Compare all available offers in Luxembourg — current prices, ongoing promotions, 24-month total cost.
Frequently asked questions — switching internet in Luxembourg
How do I switch internet provider in Luxembourg?
In 5 steps: (1) compare offers at your address on our comparison tool; (2) subscribe to your new plan, mentioning number portability if needed; (3) send a registered cancellation letter to your old operator; (4) coordinate activation and cancellation dates to avoid an outage; (5) return rented equipment and verify your final invoice. Unlike in France, in Luxembourg you must generally manage the cancellation with your old operator yourself.
Can I switch provider before the 24-month commitment ends without paying?
Yes, in several legally protected cases: (1) if your operator modifies contract terms to your disadvantage (price increase, speed reduction, etc.) — you have one month to cancel without fees after notification; (2) if your actual speeds are significantly and persistently below contractual levels; (3) if you’re within the 14-day withdrawal period after subscribing. Outside these cases, early termination fees apply according to your contract terms.
My operator is increasing prices — can I cancel without fees?
Yes — this is one of the most important consumer rights in Luxembourg. If your operator increases your subscription price (or modifies any contractual condition to your disadvantage), it must inform you at least one month in advance. You then have one month from notification to cancel your contract with no fees whatsoever, even during a 24-month commitment. Right guaranteed by the Law of 17 December 2021, confirmed by ILR press conference of 12 June 2024.
Will I lose my internet connection when switching provider?
The Law of 17 December 2021 guarantees that the service outage during a provider switch must not exceed 1 working day. To avoid any outage, activate the new service before deactivating the old one, and request a temporary 4G router from your new operator (offered by POST, Orange and Tango) as a backup.
Can I keep my fixed phone number when switching provider?
Yes — fixed number portability is free and guaranteed by the ILR. Simply mention your wish to keep your number when subscribing with the new operator and provide your current number and contract details. The port happens within 1 working day maximum. Requesting portability does not replace contract cancellation — you must still cancel your old contract separately.
How much does early termination of an internet contract cost in Luxembourg?
Early termination fees vary by operator and your position within the 24-month commitment. They generally correspond to remaining monthly instalments or a fraction thereof. These can be high early in the contract (months 1–6) and more reasonable near the end. The exact conditions must appear in your contractual summary. Before paying, check whether you qualify for a legally protected free termination.
What should I do if my operator refuses my cancellation or charges unjustified fees?
In two steps: (1) send a written complaint (registered letter recommended) to your operator citing the legal basis for your request; (2) if you don’t receive a satisfactory response, submit a free mediation request to the ILR via myilr.lu. Over 80% of disputes are resolved amicably. The ILR explicitly states that no provider-change fee may be charged outside the cancellation conditions provided in your contract.