Das Festnetz is the name given to the cable-based telephone network, known in English as land lines or PSTN.
Telephone numbers in this network have a set Vorwahl (Prefix or STD-Code). Previously the numbers were often assigned to a particular property, these days it is usually possible to take your number with you as long as the area code stays the same.
Apart from the Deutsche Telekom some cities have their own cable-based telephone networks, but there are also two larger completely separate networks owned by the Deutsche Bahn and the German army.
To hear a simple explanation and a short discussion in German, listen to the podcast:
(Press the “play” button to listen to the podcast)
