Fortsetzung der Diskussion von Mustachian phone plan [2023]: Couldn’t agree more. I think Freesurf is the middle finger of SBB to all politicians and interest groups who ask for free wifi on Swiss trains.
Nevertheless, it is what it is, and we have to live with it (or have unlimited data plan 
). I would therefore still be interested in people using Freesurf with a prepaid phone plan.
I mean, it’s much more economically viable for the complainers to get an unlimited data plan with Wingo for CHF 20 a month than it is for SBB to equip all trains with Wi-Fi. SBB would have to pay for the internet and bear all the maintenance costs (e.g. replacing access points every few years, managing the network, etc.).
If I want to work on the train or use the internet anyhow, I’m not going to complain to SBB for not providing me free internet but I organise the internet myself, or did I misunderstand what you are trying to say?
My experience with free wifi in trains in Italy and Germany really was nothing to write home about. So I guess the choice is between no wifi and a useless wifi…
A good reminder that this is another ‘there’s no such thing as free money’ scenario in disguise.
Wifi on public transportation may have been a nice-to-have 20 years ago. Today, with plans that include unlimited calls and data costing as little as 10 francs per month, it isn’t something most people are likely to use. Tourists can get prepaid mobile Internet for 1 or 2 francs per day.
I remember when I first encountered the discussion 15 years ago, thinking what a waste it would be to go to all the trouble of equipping trains with WiFi when mobile data would likely become dirt cheap within a few years. I think the SBB/CFF was very sensible in its approach, in this regard.
There might be a partial misunderstanding. I’m not complaining about the SBB offer, rather
Yes, I could also bite the bullet and pay a bit more for sufficient data so that I wouldn’t have to use free wireless internet anymore. But I’m still in the phase of engineering a solution for this challenge.
I think SBB and mobile operators found a rational approach.
Mobile operators had issues with the quality of their networks in trains; it was barely usable in many areas, even after the deployment of 4G. And as you can only build that many cellular towers along the tracks, the solution was to equip trains with cellular boosters. They then reached an agreement where SBB would be able to offer free internet access and operators fixed their quality issues making subscribers happy.
Regarding the prepaid card, I fail to understand your question? It should be as simple as getting a prepaid card and activate FreeSurf when onboard a train. You may get it confirmed with SBB or one of the mobile operators.
SBB also improved/got better trains (the windows being used make a huge difference whether they block signal or not, obviously for trains built in the 90s/00s it wasn’t really something they care about).
The challenge is that activating Freesurf requires a data connection. Such a data connection requires a data package. Usually, prepaid SIMs have daily data package that cost between Fr. 1 and Fr. 2. If I use the data connection to activate Freesurf, this will trigger the charge this daily data package. I would therefore need a way to activate Freesurf without triggering the daily data package.
I tested FreeSurf for the first time in my life today, just for you 
I have two SIM cards in my smartphone:
| SIM | Provider |
|---|---|
| 1 | Yallo, unlimited Internet |
| 2 | Swisscom Prepaid, CHF 2 / Day |
I proceeded as follows:
Result: According to my IP address, I’m surfing with Swisscom, and the usual “you have just paid CHF 2 for 1 day of internet” sms hasn’t arrived yet. But since I don’t know how much money I had on my prepaid sim card before, I can’t say whether anything has been charged so far. The Swisscom online customer center says consumption is 0, but I don’t know if that’s in real time.
But I can confirm: Activation is only possible with an internet connection. That might be a job for Firsty or for a Digital Republic for CHF 4 / month (unlimited, throttled 0.4 Mbit/s).
The FreeSurf app detects the train using Bluetooth beacons. It would be interesting to know whether such a Bluetooth beacon can be cloned. Then you would have free internet access throughout Switzerland, even without a train 
Oh, I see now: We have to RTFM!
This is covered in the FAQ:
# How do pre-paid customers benefit from the SBB FreeSurf solution?
- If you have a pre-paid subscription, an amount may be deducted from the credit balance as soon as mobile services are activated in line with the conditions of the pre-paid subscription. Those registered for FreeSurf can use the app even if they have no credit on their account.
- There are different solutions available for Salt and Sunrise subscriptions in order to prevent the daily rate from being charged when the SBB FreeSurf is launched. Since Galaxus Mobile and Quickline do not offer pre-paid subscriptions, their customers are not affected.
- Salt: the customer is charged the daily rate directly. Salt checks in the background whether the SBB FreeSurf app was launched at the same time. If this is the case, the customer receives a remuneration for the daily rate in real time.
- Sunrise: to stop Sunrise subscribers from being charged before using FreeSurf, the use of paid mobile data must be blocked before switching mobile data on. The customer can do this using the USSD code *170# and the call button on the keyboard. The customer enters the USSD code #170# to re-enable the use of paid mobile data outside of FreeSurf. Activation and deactivation are confirmed via a text message.
- Swisscom: For prepaid and postpaid customers, communication between the SBB app and the SBB server is free of charge. Customers who communicate using VPN services (company VPN, Apple Privacy Services, etc.) can only benefit from the free internet usage once they have activated the SBB FreeSurf app. Prepaid customers who are automatically charged the basic tariff can deactivate this at cockpit.swisscom.ch.
Buying one of these trains would be another option. Or dismantling a train and running away with the beacon.
Thanks for pointing this out. I actually read these FAQ, and posted my question afterwards. (Sorry for not making this clear before.) All options feel quite home-made and prone to fail, not working reliably in daily usage.
Very many thanks for this, I would give you three hearts if I could 
Based on your test, it seems that eligibilty is checked based on the registered SIM number, not the SIM that makes the connection request (since Yallo is not supported by Freesurf). That is perfect for me, since I have a SIM card with data connection and no eligibility for Freesurf (spusu). I can therefore use spusu to make the connection, then switch internet to Swisscom prepaid during the train ride.
Thanks so much again!
You should just not forget to switch back to Spusu before you leave the FreeSurf range, otherwise you will be charged the daily rate of Swisscom Prepaid!