Telephone & Internet

Once you arrive in France, if you're staying for an extended amount of time, you'll probably want to set up telephone and internet services at your residence. But even if you are just visiting for a short time there are several attractive options that you can take advantage of. France offers you a wide range of service providers and the quality of service ranges from excellent to horrible. Here's a quick overview of what you will find:

Short Term Visits

Télécartes - Telephone booths almost universally require a phone card. This usually means that you will need to purchase a phone card (called a télécarte), but if you have a credit card that has an embedded computer chip (many European issued credit cards are compatible) this will also work. Télécartes are available in 50 and 100 unit cards and the cost is approximately 8€ and 16€ respectively (one unit originally corresponded to one French Franc and the cards were sold at a 10% discount). These cards can be used in any public phone booth in France and they can be purchased in any Tabac (the neighborhood tobacco shops, easily recognizable by their uniform red "Tabac" signs).

Cellular phones - Those visiting for short periods of time who want to use a cellular phone can purchase a pre-paid phone card. Each of the major service providers (described below) offer prepaid plans allowing you to purchase a SIM card for your phone. This will give you a local phone number. Additional phone credits can be purchased at a Tabac once you have used up your initial allocation. Prepaid service is generally much more expensive than a cell phone subscription, but those who don't have proof of a residence in France (rental contract or utility bill), in their own name, may have no other choice.

Internet - Internet cafes and cafés with wi-fi can be found in every neighborhood. Every MacDonald's restaurant in Paris offers free wi-fi internet access. Travelers who don't carry their own computer or internet ready mobile device can also access the internet in any number of reasonably priced internet cafés.

Long Term Stays

Telephone - In order to set up a phone line or obtain a mobile phone number you generally will need to provide a piece of identity (passport for non-French residents) and for a fixed phone line or internet connection, a rental agreement or electric bill. Depending on where you live and the existing installation in your residence, your phone should be working within a day or two. France Telecom is the largest provider, but there are also a number of secondary providers offering reduced rates on everything from local calls to long distance calls.

Mobile Phone - There are three cellular phone service providers in France: Orange (partially owned by France Telecom), SFR, and Bouygues Telecom. The three services are roughly similar with small differences in pricing. Shop around to see which service provider meets your needs. Can you bring your own phone? France uses the GSM cellular phone system, so North American phones must use the tri-band technology to be compatible (most newer phones are compatible).

Internet - A wide selection of internet access options are available in France. Broadband internet access is offered via Cable and ADSL as well as “free services” which offer dial-up access for the cost of a local phone call (www.free.fr). In addition to internet access, the majority of broadband providers now offer package deals that include unlimited calling to fixed phone lines in France and over 40 other countries as well as hundreds of TV channels via DSL or cable. Broadband internet via cable is available from Numericable (formerly known as Noos cable).

The primary advantages of broadband internet via cable are quicker installation time (generally one week or less if your building is cable-ready) and excellent quality television. Under its old corporate structure, as Noos, France’s cable provider was renowned for its inefficiency and poor customer service. Only time will tell if the newly reorganized numericable can shed the bad reputation and move on.

Given France’s initial bad experience with Noos and cable broadband, it’s not surprising that DSL broadband internet caught on like wildfire. At least six different providers offer internet, TV and phone services in France. Alice, Free, Neuf, Orange (France Telecom) and mobile operator SFR all offer similar package solutions. Club-Internet offers an internet only package. Although pricing and products offerings are similar, ADSL generally requires a wait of 2-4 weeks to get the service connected. SFR also offer the “Clé 3G” a small USB plug-in for laptops or home computers that provides wireless broadband access. . The major paid providers can provide English speakers upon request. Free internet access services are also available. Some of the more prominent free service providers include, libertysurf.fr and free.fr.