Getting set up in terms of telecommunications is probably one of the first things you should take care of. I remember that on my second day, I went to an Orange shop and purchased a SIM card and internet box. Why Orange? Because I used them in London and was happy with their services. Also, they had an English hotline. In that regard, getting connected to internet is a must !
Do you need a landline for the
internet in France?
Like in most countries, yes, you do. This is given to you by your provider. If you choose to hook up a phone or not is up to you. Most French people use mobile phones, only after a certain age landlines are more popular.
How much is the internet per
month in France?
There are THOUSANDS of offers at any time on the market.Knowing what type of connection you have and what your budget is (checklist below), is very helpful. In France, signing up for internet also can come with a TV option. Thus, deciding if you want TV access (or access to private, provider-owned channels such as OCS (Orange Cinéma Séries) in addition to possible streaming services (Netflix, Disney+, you get the idea) is also good to have in the back of your mind.
Here’s a quick checklist:
- Do I have DSL or Fiber?
- Do I want TV access?
- What’s my budget?
- Do I want the ability to cancel anytime?
- Do I want a cheap offer now that will increase in a year ?
- Do I need a human representative to ask questions or can I survive in a chat with google translate?
I recommend to head to one of the comparison sites using the info you have collected above. There are several, I usually find mine by googling “meilleur internet Paris” or “internet Paris pas cher”. It’ll come up, top choices being lemon, selector or lameilleurebox
Here are the keywords to look out for:
- “Sans engagement” – meaning you can cancel at any time
- “Frais de location” rental fees, you want to avoid this, having “Incluse dans le prix de la box” is better
- “Prix fixe” – fixed price. A lot of offers increase after 12/24 months, look out for this!
Once you find your perfect provider, remember, booking an appointment to install the box is mandatory and you need to be home. These appointments are given out at random so make sure you can be flexible (a lot of employers understand if you explain the situation).
How is the internet in France?
Pretty decent! Most places have fiber, you can check your (future) address here or here.
Tips and tricks
- When installing the internet in your home, you want to check what internet you are eligible for (ADSL or Fiber – Fiber is faster, but your building has to be equipped with a fiber connection) and also what your budget looks like. You can find out with a quick address search if your building has fibre access by clicking here or here.
- Traditional providers offer full contracts, usually including television and a personal customer service, but the savvy user will probably want to go with a subsidiary as it’s much cheaper and the only downside is that you’ll need to chat with an advisor rather than to speak with one.
- If you are installing Fiber internet, remember to have access to the basement, there often is a key involved, and without it the technician cannot finish the installation. You’ll have to book another appointment to finalise, and that can take another couple of weeks.
- If you ever move or change provider, you will need to return your internet router box, so make sure to hold on to the packaging and not damage it – not returning these items usually comes with a steep fee – make sure to read the fine print of your contract!
