Internet in France

How to get the access to the net

Internet usage in France is high. If you're studying at a university in France, you will probably have free internet available there, although computers might be limited.

If you are working in an office, you will probably have internet access too. However, some companies restrict web usage to e-mail access. If you don't have access to the internet at home, school or work, then an Internet café is the next best thing. They can be found in all cities in France.

If you stay for a while, you might want to get a connection at home, which is fairly easy. Options for home Internet access include dial-up, ADSL and cable:

Dial-up access

The majority of dial-up ISPs (Internet Service Providers) offer three types of access:

a pay-as-you-go service (with free access, you pay for the local phone call)
a flat rate service which means you pay a fixed amount per month for unlimited access through a free phone number
or a combination of the two. This usually involves a flat fee for access after peak business hours and a per-minute charge during them.

You can organise access by telephone or online.

High-speed access (ADSL, cable)

There are many providers in France, all competing by offering better and better offers. 1024kb/s ADSL (basically 20 times faster then a normal dial-up connection) starts for under €20/month.

Many offers also have free installation, but watch out for minimum contract terms. Shop around for the best deal and if you are a student check if there is a special deal for you. You can also get cheaper phone calls from some providers.

Whoever you choose for Internet access (except cable), you still need to get your phone line from France Telecom. If you choose cable, your building/house must be already connected (which can be also easily checked online at the provider's website).

Internet cafés

These can usually be found easily, especially in city centres. Many stores and calling centres have few computers with access for their customers. The best places for access in terms of speed and price tend to be the larger Internet cafés (20+ computers). Look in the directory to find locations.

Costs vary a lot from €1.50-5.00. Fees tend to give you access to the computer and Internet. Just about everything else might carry an extra charge: e.g. printing, scanning, CD-Rom burning, etc.

Warning: Internet cafés are popular targets for thieves and pickpockets particularly in the centre of large cities. Keep an eye on your valuables at all times.

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