Getting a phone and Internet in France
The telecommunications network in France is broad and well-developed. France is home to a wide range of telephone and internet service providers offering packages which combine TV, landlines, Wifi and mobile phones. While these are particularly interesting for individuals moving to France with families, standalone options are also available at competitive prices. If you expect to call home very often, you can enquire about special packages which include international calls or you can also buy calling cards, which are very popular.
Otherwise, the excellent connection speeds make Skype, Whatsapp, Facetime or Facebook calls very convenient. A great piece of news is that the European Union has now scrapped roaming fees within the Union, meaning that you can use your European sim card if you are in France for a short time without getting a nasty surprise in your next bill!
Choosing your service provider in France
Orange, formerly France Telecom, remains the main service provider in France despite fierce competition within the market. If you need a landline or internet connection, Orange can be a good place to start, but while they remain the leading landline service providers, other companies also offer attractive packages at interesting rates. The following are popular French service providers:
SFR
Free
Bouygues Telecom
Numéricable
Coriolis
Alice
In case your accommodation already has a landline connection, you might simply need to reactivate it. Otherwise, you will need to apply for a new connection. Given the popularity of Orange, you will find multiple stores in major cities, especially in shopping malls.
For reactivation or subscription, you will require the following documents:
A passport or an identity card which is recognised by French authorities
The date you moved into your new home
Proof of address (lease document or utility bill)
Floor and door number if you live in a flat
A contact number (so that the technician can call you on the installation or reactivation day)
Your RIB (bank account details) in case you prefer to settle your bills via direct debit (a safe and widespread practice in France)
Good to know:
To subscribe to a new landline or for the reactivation of a landline which has been disconnected for more than six months, you will pay a fee ranging from 20 to 100 Euros, depending on the service provider.
In France, phone bills are sent either each month or every two months. Feel free to request a detailed bill so as to keep track of your consumption. As mentioned above, most subscribers prefer to settle their phone bill by direct debit, and in fact, some service providers offer direct debit only.
Internet in France
France has an extensive internet network, including ADSL and fibre. Most service providers offer attractive packages at affordable rates. To subscribe, you may either visit your preferred service provider's shop or its website from your office or an internet cafe.
The following documents need to be produced:
A passport or identity card (recognised by French authorities)
Proof of address (lease documents or utility bill)
Your RIB (bank account number) for direct debit purposes (a safe and widespread practice in France)
Mobile phones in France
The most diverse offerings are found in mobile providers. There is a range of providers to choose from in France, some of which are:
Orange
SFR
Free
Coriolis
Sosh
Sim
Free
Bouygues Telecom
La Poste Mobile
Zéro Forfait
All providers have a wide array of packages, based on whether you intend to consume more data services or texts and call services. Feel free to visit the agencies of the providers to request more information before making a decision. You may choose either a contract with monthly billing or a prepaid account which you can recharge according to your consumption. In general, packages tend to be less expensive, unless you frequently go over your data or minutes limit, in which case the operators charge significantly inflated fees.
The following documents will be required when setting up your mobile phone services:
A passport or identity card (recognised by French authorities)
Proof of address (lease documents or utility bill)
Your RIB (bank account number) if you prefer direct debit (which is a safe and widespread practice in France)
For expatriates moving from countries which are not accustomed to telephone packages, make sure to read your contract thoroughly before signing it so as to avoid any surprises, especially in the case of cancelling the contract. Generally, it is complicated to annul a contract prematurely, although most operators will allow you to cancel a contract if you leave the country permanently.
Good to know:
In case of conflict, you may seek the help of several associations, especially the Direction Départementale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) which has branches in all French departments.
Useful links:
Quechoisir ' Comparative of Internet service providers
Ooreka ' Choosing your phone service provider
Tous les forfaits ' Mobile service providers
Orange
Free
SFR
Bouygues Telecom
