Swiss Post to deliver digital letters in future – further regulatory steps required
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Swiss Post to deliver digital letters in future – further regulatory steps required
The digital letter is to become part of the statutory universal service obligation. By making this change, the Federal Council is responding to a key customer need and expanding the public service with a secure solution for sending and receiving letters digitally. The service will allow Swiss Post customers to choose whether they receive their mail physically or digitally – with the highest level of protection and convenience. Despite this important step, Swiss Post urgently needs further financial relief to continue providing the universal service without using taxpayers’ money. Comprehensive regulatory framework conditions are also required to enable Swiss Post to develop its services in a customer-centric manner. This is the only way to ensure that its public service remains financially viable.
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The key points at a glance
Digital public service will be enshrined in law: the Federal Council is making digital letters an integral part of the universal service obligation, supplementing physical mail.
No changes to delivery in remote regions: Swiss Post will continue to serve all permanently inhabited households. The requirement for delivery punctuality will be harmonized at 90 percent for letters and parcels.
Financial challenges remain: the amendment to the ordinance does not provide sufficient relief. In order to guarantee the universal service without using taxpayers’ money, Swiss Post urgently needs further relaxation of regulatory requirements.
Federal Council sends a clear signal
Federal Council sends a clear signal
Swiss Post customers are already sending their letters digitally: this year, the company has transported around 3.1 million consignments using its hybrid delivery system. Following the Federal Council’s decision, this service will become an integral part of the statutory mandate, which previously only covered the transport of physical letters, parcels and newspapers, as well as provision of financial services. “We’re moving with the times. Our customers are entitled to a modern public service that includes secure transport of digital information,” says CEO Pascal Grieder, adding: “The Federal Council’s decision is sending a clear signal in support of a digital public service.”
Swiss Post brings mail secrecy to the digital world
The digital letter is not a replacement for physical mail, but a supplement to it. The service differs significantly from traditional e-mail: with a digital seal, a qualified time stamp and expanded confirmation of receipt, the digital letter meets the highest security and legal requirements. In future, customers will be able to choose how they want to send and receive their letters. “If you like to do things digitally, you can use the new Post-App to bring your letter box to your smartphone. Customers can read their post wherever they want – on the train, on the sofa or on holiday,” explains Pascal Grieder. For business customers, the hybrid system offers an additional advantage. They can send and receive letters digitally directly from their existing business software. The service will officially be launched on 1 April 2026.
Remote households will be served daily
The Federal Council has discussed further issues relating to the universal service. Contrary to earlier plans, delivery in remote regions will remain the same. Swiss Post will continue to serve all permanently inhabited households as before. Daily newspapers will continue to be delivered until 12 noon. The regulatory provisions on the punctuality of letter and parcel delivery have been amended, and harmonized at 90 percent. This will enable Swiss Post to organize delivery more flexibly and, in turn, more efficiently on busy days. The changes will not make any difference to the high quality of delivery services.
Further modernization is needed
The delivery punctuality requirement set by the Federal Council provides Swiss Post with some relief. Even following this relaxation, Swiss Post still has the most stringent regulatory requirements in Europe, resulting in costs of around 350 million francs a year – and rising. The revenue generated by the letter monopoly – which amounts to around 70 million francs annually and is on a downward trend – is not sufficient to cover these costs. For Swiss Post, one thing is clear: in addition to further efficiency and pricing measures, comprehensive modernization of the regulatory framework is needed. Swiss Post must be able to evolve its public service in line with the actual needs of people and companies. A look abroad shows that other countries have been taking action for some time: Norway, Germany and Italy have already updated their postal regulations to ensure financial sustainability.
Successful model is at great risk
Switzerland needs a universal service obligation that is geared towards its customers’ actual needs. The current law dates back to a time when smartphones were still rarely used. Without reform, there is a risk that Swiss Post’s services will become irrelevant and too expensive. Some politicians are also pursuing plans to massively restrict Swiss Post’s business activities.“ Swiss Post is a successful model and is part of Switzerland’s DNA, like the Swiss Army knife or the Matterhorn. These cutback plans jeopardize the public service and, in turn, a significant part of the Swiss identity,” says CEO Pascal Grieder. Swiss Post supports the approach taken by the Federal Council, which has announced a comprehensive revision of the law and an accompanying review.
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