What’s dégroupage?

Dégroupage is the French term for ‘degrouped’, in this sense it means that companies other than France Télécom (Orange) can connect your telephone line. Most cities and towns in France are degrouped, while small villages and rural areas aren’t and must use France Télécom for their phone line. If you live in an area that is not degrouped and you want to go with someone other than Orange, you will need to pay €16 per month for your phone line.

So what are my options?

Orange (France Télécom)

France’s formerly public telecoms company. They offer internet, television and telephone service for €39.90 per month. On top of this you need to add €3 to rent your router and €49 up front as caution.

Internet – 18 mbps
Television – up to 75 channels
Telephone – Free to French metropolitan landlines. Calls to mobiles, DOM/TOM, and abroad will cost extra.

Why? They’re everywhere, and if you’re in an area that isn’t degrouped, you may not have much of a choice.

Why not? Too expensive, and international phone calls aren’t included.

Neufbox (from SFR)

Degrouped areas: Internet + television + telephone = €29.90 per month.
Non-degrouped: Internet + telephone: €34.90 per month

Internet: 20 mbps
Television: 130 channels
Telephone: Free to landlines in France and over 90 countries.

Why? Comfort of a large company, and less expensive than Orange.
Why not? Not as fast as some other companies, fewer channels than others, fewer countries for free landlines.

Alice

Internet + television + telephone = €29.95 per month.

Internet: 28 mbps in degrouped areas, otherwise 22 mbps
Television: 150 channels
Telephone: Free to landlines in France and 87 other areas (including certain DOM)

Why? Offer looks interesting. Also decent customer service when setting up the service.
Why not? Quality of network is poor. CNN isn’t included, and BBC World News isn’t even offered.

Free

Internet + television + telephone = €29.99 per month.

Internet: 28 mbps
Television: 150 channels included, 150 others optional (CNN and BBC World will cost €0.25 per month each)
Telephone: Free to landlines in 100 countries, including France.

Why? Large range of services included, others on option.
Why not? A bit technical to set up.

Numericable

Internet + television + telephone = €31.90 per month.

Internet: between 30-100 mbps
Television: at least 120 channels included, other packages available.
Telephone: Free to landlines in over 50 countries.

Why? You want your internet fast. Numericable is big on fibre optic internet, which is gradually being rolled out in major French cities.
Why not? Limited television choices. Fewer countries included in telephone service.

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Internet Cafes still exist

If you don’t want to lug your laptop around while you’re on vacation, you can still find internet cafes in major cities. In Paris (and maybe even some other cities) there are internet cafes open nearly round the clock. Expect to pay between 0.50 and 1 euro for fifteen minutes with digressive increases if you want to stay online longer. Some providers will even let you buy time in bundles of five or ten hours, but if you’re just on holiday it won’t be worth it. And if you plan on doing more than just surfing the net–printing documents, burning CDs, etc–expect to pay more.

WiFi networks

Paris has particularly caught on to the idea of WiFi, going as far as installing free to use networks in many city parks and gardens, libraries, and town halls. To connect to the network in one of these places, just look for the Paris_WiFi network. You’re limited to two hours at a time though.

There are also a number of cafes and restaurants with free wifi.

Internet at home, how does it work?

If you’re coming to live in France for a year or longer, you can have internet installed at home. In most major cities, you can have your phone line with whatever telecoms company you like (not just France Télécom). Internet often comes bundled with a landline and cable television. Expect to pay around 30€ per month for the lot-more if you want extra option and channels. Some companies are beginning to install fibre optic networks (particularly in Paris) with up to 100 mbps connexions, and this will also cost extra.

Mobile Internet

If you’re often on the go in France, telecoms companies are also offering mobile internet keys that plug into the USB port on your laptop. Coverage can be patchy however. If you want an idea of prices, SFR offer unlimited mobile internet for 30€ per month if you already have a mobile phone plan with them, and Orange bundle two hours of mobile internet with home internet, phone and television for 44€ per month.

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