When Does My Contract Expire? MVD Management for Companies

A mobile contract that quietly renews for another 12 months because nobody cancelled in time – this isn't an isolated case. It happens every month. In companies with 10, 20 or more active SIM cards, minimum contract durations expire unnoticed and contracts keep running under outdated terms.

What is the MVD and why does it matter?

The minimum contract duration (German: Mindestvertragsdauer, short: MVD) is the period for which a mobile or internet contract is initially binding. In Austria, business contracts typically run for 12, 24 or 36 months. Cancelling within this period usually triggers a termination fee. If a contract is not actively cancelled or renegotiated before the MVD expires, it renews automatically – often under terms that no longer reflect current market rates.

Important: Automatic renewal after the MVD expires is not a provider error – it is contractually intended. If you don't know the right moment, you act too late.

The problem: contracts spread across months and providers

A company with 20 employees can quickly accumulate 15 to 30 active mobile contracts – with different start dates, different contract durations and different providers. Some contracts run with A1, others with Magenta, others with Drei. On top of that, there are separate internet contracts for offices and locations.

The result: the overview is lost. Nobody knows off the top of their head when which contract expires. And when someone does check, it turns into a manual search through old emails, PDF invoices and spreadsheets.

When is the right time to cancel or renegotiate?

The optimal window is usually 1 to 3 months before the MVD expires: enough time to gather offers, align internally and make an informed decision.

1. Record MVD expiry dates – Document all contract durations centrally: with start date, contract length and calculated end date per phone number.
2. Get reminded early – Ideally receive an internal reminder 60 to 90 days before expiry, to allow enough lead time for negotiations.
3. Evaluate options – Compare current usage against the current tariff: Does the tariff still fit? Which numbers are barely used?
4. Cancel or renegotiate – Enter the decision with a structured overview. Not under time pressure, but with clear data.

What happens without structured MVD management?

Situation	Without MVD overview	With structured management
Contract expires	Automatic renewal goes unnoticed	Reminder 60–90 days in advance
Tariff no longer fits	Noticed too late or not at all	Usage and tariff directly comparable
Multiple providers in parallel	Deadlines scattered across various PDFs	All durations in one overview
New employees / new SIMs	Contract start not documented	Captured immediately on creation
Preparing for provider meeting	Searching through old emails and invoices	Structured data instantly available

How many contracts does this actually affect?

An Austrian SMB with 1 to 200 employees realistically has 2 to 160 active mobile contracts – spread across one to three providers, with different contract starts and different durations. Each of these numbers has its own MVD. Without a system to manage these deadlines, a complete overview is nearly impossible.

Add to this the internet contracts for locations: fixed-line and broadband contracts also run with their own minimum durations that need to be tracked separately.

MVD management as part of the complete picture

The minimum contract duration is not an isolated topic. It is closely linked to usage data, tariff structure and cost trends. Knowing that a contract expires in three months allows you to check at the same time whether the current tariff still matches actual usage behaviour. A structured solution connects both perspectives: when does the contract end – and is an adjustment worthwhile?

Practical note: Many business contracts in Austria have cancellation notice periods of one to three months before the MVD end date. If you miss this window, you are often bound for another 12 months.

Frequently asked questions

What does MVD mean exactly? MVD stands for Mindestvertragsdauer – the minimum period for which a contract is binding. After this period, the contract typically renews automatically if it is not cancelled or renegotiated in time.

How do I find out when my contracts expire? Contract information is usually found in the original contract document or on the first invoice. Some providers also show the contract duration in their online customer portal. A central record of all start dates and durations makes the overview much easier to manage.

What happens if I miss the MVD deadline? The contract renews automatically, usually for another 12 months. Cancellation is then only possible at the next regular date again – subject to the contractually agreed notice period.

Can I manage all company contracts in one overview? Yes, with a structured solution. IIA Analysis Suite enables the central recording of contract durations and minimum contract periods – for all phone numbers and providers together.

Does this also apply to internet contracts? Yes. Fixed-line and broadband contracts also run with their own minimum durations. A complete overview should cover both areas – mobile and internet – together.

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Minimum contract durations are a blind spot in many companies. Not because the topic is unimportant, but because the overview is missing. With a structured record of all contract durations, you can act at the right time – before a contract renews itself quietly.