Switzerland’s state-of-the-art services and infrastructure

Switzerland is a country known worldwide for the quality of its services and infrastructure, whether public or private. Its commitment to excellence has forged its international reputation, which is illustrated by the famous Swiss made label. In many areas, Switzerland has proven its expertise by offering superior services, reflecting its commitment to innovation and efficiency.

Information and communication technologies (ICT)

Switzerland has excellent access to the information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure, including both devices (cell phones, computers) and software. Nearly 1­­­00% of Swiss households have access to the Internet, which is remarkable by international standards. Furthermore, 40% of the Swiss population has advanced digital skills. This figure is higher than in countries such as Ireland, France, and Belgium, respectively 39%, 31%, and 26%. Thanks to this highly skilled workforce, Switzerland can meet the needs of an increasingly digital world.

In addition, Switzerland is ranked fifth in the Global Digital Competitiveness Ranking, a ranking that takes into account the country’s ability to adopt and explore new digital technologies. This makes it a prime location for companies looking to invest in information and communication technologies.

The electrical network

Switzerland’s energy system offers outstanding services and is characterized by reliability and stability. Switzerland can meet its energy needs through a dense and decentralized power grid that draws on various energy sources, including natural gas, oil, and other competitive energy sources available in the region. Switzerland is also well integrated into the European grid, which ensures a reliable supply even during periods of high consumption.

Water treatment

Switzerland is considered the freshwater reservoir of Europe, with 6% of the continent’s freshwater reserves located in the Swiss Alps. Furthermore, Lac Léman, located in the canton of Vaud, is the largest freshwater reservoir in Western Europe.

All taps in Switzerland provide drinking water that meets the purity criteria of mineral water while being 1,000 times cheaper. The quality of this service is the result of a rigorous water protection policy and a modern treatment system that allows wastewater from households, industry, craft businesses, and agriculture to be sent to one of the country’s 900 treatment plants, thus enabling almost 99% of Swiss households to benefit from quality water. This quality allows people to swim in any lake or river in Switzerland without risk to their health.

The transport system

Switzerland has an excellent transportation network. It has well-maintained roads and is rated the third best in Europe for road quality by the International Divers Association. In addition, its rail network is modern and efficient. Trains are often the preferred means of travel throughout the country, with Swiss trains known for their punctuality and comfort. Switzerland has also three international airports, Zurich, Geneva, and Basel. These three airports offer connections to many destinations in Europe and the world.

The article ” Means of transport in Switzerland ” provides more information on the Swiss means of transport.

The postal service

La Poste is a postal service company owned by the Swiss Confederation, which provides a universal service throughout the country. It is renowned for its reliability and is ranked first in the world of postal companies.

Other private companies are also present in the postal market but under certain conditions. For example, since 2004, private companies can offer delivery services for parcels weighing more than 1 kg. Since 2006, letters weighing more than 100 grams can also be delivered by private companies, provided that they have the necessary permits. However, Swiss Post still has a monopoly on delivering letters weighing less than 100 grams in Switzerland and from abroad.

The healthcare system

Switzerland is world-renowned for its efficient healthcare system, based on an alliance of public and private players, operating in a highly regulated market. With highly qualified doctors and renowned medical institutions, the exceptional quality of life in Switzerland is reflected in the high life expectancy of Swiss citizens, which reaches 83 years. In addition, a dense network of hospitals, doctors, dentists, and pharmacists provides inpatient and outpatient care throughout the country. The professional system of intervention by road (hospital emergency services) or by air (Guard (hospital rescue services) or by air (Swiss Air Rescue, Rega, or TCS) is also well developed.

All persons residing in Switzerland are required to take out compulsory basic health insurance, which guarantees access to adequate care in the event of illness or accident not covered by accident insurance. To learn more about health and accident insurance in Switzerland, please consult our article “Working in Switzerland: Social Security“.

In a nutshell: In Switzerland, companies can invest in information and communication technologies with confidence and benefit from a stable and reliable energy network. In addition, the modern infrastructure and services contribute to the well-being of the entire population living in the country.

Greater Geneva Bern area (GGBa) is the investment promotion agency for Western Switzerland. If you would like to know more about the Swiss infrastructure or other topics that could help you in your implantation, contact us.

Our articles “Why Switzerland” are likely to answer the questions you have.