Did we ever summarise this in one post? In any case it is worth an update with the state of play in early 2026.
So:
Technologies
ADSL/VDSL - broadband using your phone line, up to about 100Mbps, not available for new order.
France in common with most countries plans to remove copper from the “local loop” so it is very unlikely that you would be able to order a connection based on your existing copper phone line and existing customers are likely to be required to move to an alternative at some point in the not too distant future.
4G/5G - the same technology that provides a data connection for your phone. Speed mainly varies by distance to the nearest mast and whether you have access to 4G or 5G but also other factors such as how many people’s phones are connected to the same mast or even the weather. Speeds up to 200Mbps+ for 5G under ideal conditions down to a few Mbps in poor conditions.
Fibre - broadband over optical fibre. Speeds up to 8Gb/s for French residential services. Not available in all locations.
Low earth orbit satellite - I.e Starlink although Amazon is about to launch a competing system. Speeds can be up to 350Mbps. Should be available everywhere but ideally the antenna needs to be positioned somewhere that it has a full view of the sky.
Geostationary satellites - systems such as Nordnet, up to 200Mbps but high latency makes the service less suitable for gamers.
This is the first year in our25yr coming to France when the Internet has been satisfactory … Part of the problem is that we might be present for a short time at Easter and a longer time in July August and absent the rest of the time. Normally we would want to suspend service over the winter .. So I am keen to share the latest solution. I have previously with Orange and a little white modem .Later the Live box ..running on the ADSL line . Which I would get suspended and then waste a week trying to get service reinstated and the performance was always pathetic ..about 8Mb.. . I moved to FREE Crystalbox and the deal was better than I left it connected all year ..but still the same data rate ..Anyway I persisted with this until there was a prospect of Fibre and upgraded to the FREE POP box ..actually a very neat bit of kit . ..and put my name in for Fibre upgrade .. However the POP box is dual ADSL and Fibre. So no data improvement..This brings date up to 2024.
The two Techs from FREE did a very neat job and supplied me with Fibre Link to the nearest post..There is a distribution gizmo on the pole . They confirmed o their satisfaction hst the link from gizmo to me was fine but nothing happening further along and lodged a request into their system. We went a number of time to the Free shop in Lorient asking what was happening and getting assurances .. We left the service connected over winter having said that while we were not present , they should be capable of correcting the fault remotely
No improvement by the next year despite a few more requests ..So by August 2025. I terminated service and sent the Pop box back ..
Now the solution…. 5G WiFi box .. I noted that the French have detailed street level coverage of Telecoms and that in particular SFR was strong near our corner. . We are just outside Baud in Morbihan. I purchased a 5G modem unit at a second hand shop and we then purchased a 250GB monthly SIM in the SFR shop to fit in it and now we have up to 250Ms throughout the house. If one was here full time it would be cheaper to actually get the hired unit from SFR ..but now we just need to cancel the SIM, and get a fresh one next year and not worry about returning kit