Bahnhof Speed Test

Bahnhof is Sweden's first commercial ISP (founded 1994) and the country's most privacy-focused internet provider. While other ISPs quietly comply with government data requests, Bahnhof fights them in court, publishes transparency reports, and famously hosted WikiLeaks in a Cold War nuclear bunker under Stockholm. They also deliver excellent fibre broadband across Sweden's municipal open-networks with speeds up to 10 Gbps and a free built-in VPN that no other ISP matches.

Bahnhof Plans — All Symmetrical, All Include VPN

All plans are symmetrical with no data caps. The 10 Gbps plan requires a 10G SFP+ capable router and is only available on stadsnät that supports XGS-PON or point-to-point fibre.

Integrity VPN — OpenVPN vs WireGuard Speed Impact

Bahnhof's Integrity VPN is free with every subscription — it encrypts all traffic and routes it through Bahnhof's Swedish servers. But the protocol you choose makes a huge difference to your speed test results:

On a 1 Gbps plan, OpenVPN typically maxes out at 400-600 Mbps because of single-threaded encryption. WireGuard uses modern crypto (ChaCha20) and delivers 850-950 Mbps on the same line. If your speed test with VPN on looks "slow," switch to WireGuard before assuming a line problem.

CGNAT — When You Can't Host Anything

Bahnhof puts some connections behind CGNAT (multiple customers share one public IPv4 address). For browsing and streaming, you won't notice. But it breaks:

• Game hosting: Strict NAT, can't host lobbies or P2P matchmaking fails
• Self-hosting: No web servers, NAS remote access, or SSH from outside
• Security cameras: Remote viewing apps that need port forwarding

Fix: Log into bahnhof.se customer portal → request a dedicated public IPv4 address. Small monthly fee. Or use IPv6 which Bahnhof fully supports.

How Swedish Stadsnät Works

Sweden's broadband model is unique: municipalities own the fibre (called stadsnät), and ISPs like Bahnhof compete to deliver service over it. This means:

• You can choose from 5-15 ISPs on the same physical fibre
• Switching ISP doesn't require a technician or new cable
• Your media converter (white box on wall) stays regardless of ISP

Bahnhof connects via a VLAN assignment on the stadsnät. You just plug any router into the media converter's Ethernet port — DHCP automatic, no PPPoE login needed. Some stadsnät require a specific VLAN tag; check Bahnhof's setup instructions for your area.

Common Issues and Fixes

Speed test shows half my plan speed

First question: is Integrity VPN on? If yes, check which protocol — OpenVPN will easily halve a 1 Gbps connection. Switch to WireGuard or test without VPN to isolate the issue.

No internet after switching ISP

The media converter requires a VLAN reassignment when switching between stadsnät providers. This is done remotely by Bahnhof. If you have no connectivity after signup, call support — the VLAN may not have been provisioned yet.

Can't access devices from outside my network

You're behind CGNAT. Request a public IPv4 from the customer portal. Alternatively, set up a Cloudflare Tunnel or Tailscale to reach your home devices without a public IP.

Bahnhof Speed Test FAQs

Does Integrity VPN slow down my connection? OpenVPN reduces speed by 30-50%. WireGuard only 5-15%. On a 1 Gbps plan, always use WireGuard to keep 850+ Mbps. You can switch protocols in the Bahnhof app or by downloading WireGuard config from your customer portal.

I'm behind CGNAT — how do I get a public IP? Log into bahnhof.se customer portal and request a dedicated public IPv4. It's a small monthly add-on. This fixes game hosting, port forwarding, NAS remote access, and security camera issues.

Why did Bahnhof host WikiLeaks? CEO Jon Karlung offered hosting in Pionen — a nuclear bunker 30m under Stockholm — as a principled stand for digital privacy. This was in 2010 when every major cloud provider refused WikiLeaks under government pressure.

Do I need a special router? No. Any router with a WAN Ethernet port works. Bahnhof uses DHCP — just plug in and go. No PPPoE login. For 10 Gbps plans, you need a router with 10G SFP+ (Ubiquiti, MikroTik).

Does Bahnhof own the fibre? Usually no. Sweden uses municipally-owned stadsnät. Bahnhof delivers service over it. This is why switching ISPs is easy — no physical changes, just a VLAN reassignment.

Does Bahnhof have data caps? No. All plans are unlimited with no fair usage policy or throttling.

Swedish ISP Alternatives

• Telia Speed Test — Sweden's largest ISP. Less privacy-focused but good for TV/mobile bundles.
• Tele2 Speed Test — Competitive pricing on stadsnät. Good customer service.
• Telenor Speed Test — Norwegian-owned, operates in Sweden. Good for mobile broadband bundles.

Bahnhof Support: 010-510 00 00

Online: bahnhof.se — VPN config, IP management, support tickets