FACT · AT-SUPERMARKT-MVNO
HoT (Hofer Telekom)
Updated May 14, 2026 · By Jules de Bruin · Austria's supermarket-checkout MVNO, explained.
Updated May 2026. HoT (short for Hofer Telekom) is the prepaid SIM brand sold at every Hofer supermarket in Austria — Hofer being the local arm of German discounter Aldi Süd. The brand launched in 2015, is operated by Ventocom GmbH, and runs entirely on the Magenta Telekom radio network. The flagship HoT fix at EUR 9.90 / 30 days for 60 GB with 15 GB EU roaming is one of the cheapest mainstream Austrian SIMs and the reason HoT has grown to roughly 1 million subscribers, making it the largest MVNO in Austria.
What is HoT (Hofer Telekom)?
HoT — full name Hofer Telekom — is the supermarket-branded prepaid SIM sold at Hofer, the Austrian division of German discount chain Aldi Süd. The SIMs are not operated by Hofer itself: technical operation, billing and customer service are run by Vienna-based MVNO specialist Ventocom GmbH, which buys wholesale capacity on the Magenta Telekom radio network.
HoT launched in May 2015 and has since become the single largest MVNO in Austria, with widely-reported subscriber counts in the range of 900,000 to 1 million active SIMs. The pitch is straightforward: get a near-Magenta network experience at a Hofer price. Tariffs are typically 30 to 50 percent cheaper per gigabyte than the equivalent contract from Magenta-branded retail, and there is no minimum contract term — every HoT tariff is a 30-day prepaid bundle that auto-renews while you have balance.
The flagship tariff is HoT fix at EUR 9.90 per 30 days for 60 GB of data, unlimited minutes and SMS in Austria, and 15 GB EU roaming. Customers who port a number in get a EUR 10 Hofer shopping voucher, which effectively makes the first month free. 5G access is included on compatible tariffs at no surcharge, and HoT supports eSIM activation as well as traditional plastic SIM cards.
Because the host network is Magenta Telekom (the former T-Mobile Austria, owned by Deutsche Telekom), HoT customers get the same 4G and 5G coverage footprint as Magenta postpaid customers — though MVNO traffic is generally deprioritised when individual cells get congested, per standard Austrian wholesale terms.
Key facts
A compact reference card with the brand, ownership, network host, flagship tariff, and where to buy. All figures verified against hot.at as of May 2026.
Source: hot.at tariff pages, RTR Austria, verified May 2026.
Where do you buy a HoT SIM?
HoT starter packs are sold at the checkout of every Hofer store in Austria — over 540 branches nationwide — alongside groceries and household goods. They also ship from hot.at and are available as eSIM via QR-code activation. There are no dedicated HoT retail stores: distribution is entirely through Hofer's supermarket footprint plus the website.
The plastic starter pack costs EUR 9.90 and includes the SIM plus the first 30-day bundle credit, so the SIM is effectively free if you start a tariff. You pay at the till like any other Hofer purchase. To activate, you scan the QR code in the pack and go through identity verification — Austria has required SIM registration since 1 January 2019, so you need a passport or EU national ID, verified either via video-ident in the HoT app or in person at a Hofer Post-Partner counter.
eSIM activation works through the HoT app: you complete the ID check, pick a tariff, and a QR code is generated to install the eSIM on iPhone, Pixel or Galaxy handsets. Top-ups can be bought as scratch-card vouchers at any Hofer till, paid in-app by SEPA debit or credit card, or set to auto-renew from your bank account.
Where does HoT appear on SimCompare365?
HoT is featured across the Austria section of SimCompare365 — most prominently in the sub-EUR 10 budget guide, the Austria providers index, and head-to-head comparisons against other Magenta-hosted brands.
Sources
All claims on this page are cross-checked against the operator's own pricing pages, the parent retailer, the Austrian telecoms regulator, and the wholesale host network.
Frequently Asked Questions
What network does HoT use?v
HoT runs on the Magenta Telekom radio network — the former T-Mobile Austria, owned by Deutsche Telekom. Customers get the same 4G and 5G footprint as Magenta postpaid, with standard MVNO deprioritisation when individual cells are congested.
Who owns HoT?v
The HoT brand belongs to Hofer KG, the Austrian division of German discounter Aldi Süd. Day-to-day operation — billing, customer service, network agreement — is handled by Vienna-based MVNO specialist Ventocom GmbH on Hofer's behalf.
Do I need ID to activate a HoT SIM?v
Yes. Since 1 January 2019, Austrian law (enforced by RTR) requires all prepaid SIMs to be registered with a valid passport or EU national ID. HoT verifies identity through video-ident in its app, or in person at a Hofer Post-Partner counter.
Does HoT work in the EU?v
Yes. HoT applies EU Roam-Like-At-Home rules, with 15 GB of roaming data included in the flagship HoT fix tariff across the EU-27 plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland and the UK are outside the RLAH zone and billed separately.
Does HoT support eSIM?v
Yes. HoT supports eSIM activation through the HoT app on compatible iPhone, Pixel and Galaxy handsets. You complete the ID check in-app and receive a QR code to install the profile — no need to visit a Hofer store.