Overview

• Average contract allowances have jumped from 45 GB to 72 GB over the past year while prepaid deals now average 14 GB despite users consuming just 11.7 GB monthly
• Long-term plans cost about €32 for 72 GB and prepaid tariffs run around €11 for 14 GB, compared with discount offers of 10–20 GB for €5 or 20 GB for €4.99 on month-to-month terms
• Incumbent operators’ prepaid tariffs support up to 300 Mbps speeds, whereas discount plans typically cap at 50 Mbps yet still meet everyday streaming and browsing needs
• Since mid-July carriers have introduced no-commitment €5–€15 tariffs with 10–90 GB allowances, intensifying competition on price rather than sheer data volumes
• Verivox and VATM analyses underscore a persistent mismatch between marketed data and actual use, prompting advice for consumers to align their choice with real requirements