Like BT, France Télécom (FT) once enjoyed a comfortable monopoly but as a result of EU liberalisation laws it now has a pack of private operators snapping at its heels and prices have plummeted.
Unbundling (ie the process of separating lines from national phone companies so that private telecoms companies can offer line rental as well as connection services) is further eroding the monopoly and, in those parts of France where unbundling is complete (mainly the large towns and cities), you no longer have to do business with FT at all. If you like, you can rent your fixed phone line from another operator, usually via a comprehensive deal including broadband and broadcasting as well as telephony.
Rates vary enormously, and to get the best deal on international phone calls, you’ll need to get up-to-date price lists and make some calculations. You’ll find that almost everyone is cheaper than FT – especially as you have to pay to subscribe to their cheapest rates, which means that if you are away for a month, you still pay the subscription even though you made no calls. For permanent residents, very best deals are often when broadband services include unlimited free calls throughout Europe (sometimes including the USA and/or Australia) for around 35 euros a month all in.
Beware comitting yourself to a lengthy contract though. Read the small print carefully and beware phrases like offre de fidélité because pricing policies are cut-throat and rates change all the time, so you should keep an eye on prices and change companies accordingly. (You may be able to change operator without changing your phone number.) It's usually cheaper to buy telephone, broadband and television services all as one deal.
Getting connected
When getting a fixed phone line installed by FT, you will be asked for an RIB (a relevé d'identité bancaire available either from your bank, or in the back of your cheque book) as proof that you have a bank account and are therefore credit-worthy, proof of your address, and ID (ie a copy of your passport).
To subscribe to a broadband service you'll usually need a French carte bleue otherwise you'll have to set up a direct debit from a French bank.
Phone plugs are different in France and phones are so cheap (try large supermarkets such as Carrefour) that it’s not worth searching for adapters for your British phones. For fax machines, answerphones, computers, modems, etc, just buy a new leads.
The local yellow and white pages (commercial and domestic telephone directories) are delivered free of charge once a year but can also be consulted by Internet – (www.pagesjaunes.fr) – especially useful when looking for numbers outside your own department.
Broadband (ADSL) is available almost all over the country, although there are still approximaely 4,000 isolated communes (out of the 36,851 in the country) where there won't be access until sometime in 2008. (Be warned that although Sarkozy wants 100% coverage nationawide, FT is saying that up to 1,000 communes could remain unconnected to ADSL as they are geographically too far from a telephone switching point.)
In Paris you can get ultra high sped connections. Phone the operator with your fixed-line number to find out if you can get ADSL or surf to www.degrouptest.com and enter your fixed line number plus your postcode.
Many expats in France prefer British television and there are various deals available. (Watch out for adverts in Living France!) However, I strongly suggest that you don’t get British television channels for the first six to twelve months after your move as watching French television is a brilliant way to immerse yourself in the French language and culture.
Shopping around
The television system by the way, is SECAM not PAL but most modern television sets can handle both systems meaning you can still play your old British (ie PAL) videos as well as watch French television and new French (ie SECAM) videos. (Region 2 (ie European) DVDs play on both PAL and SECAM systems.)
You will still notice billboard adverts for ‘minitel’ services although this is slowly being killed off by the internet. This is an on-line interactive telecoms system which pre-dated the web and is still popular as some services, ie directory enquiries, are free. Beware the prices though. For some of the more er... fruity services, prices can be astronomical.
On mobile phones, a whole plethora of deals exist. If you are to and fro between UK and France, two SIM cards is the smart answer. If your phone is locked, you can get it unlocked in most phone shops for around €25. If you are going to be regularly in a remote part of France, check coverage (réseaux) before signing up with an operator.
Cheapest mobile phones are often found in large hypermarkets such as Auchan and Carrefour. Payment plans and deals are written to confuse: but shop staff at FNAC and The Phone House (both have branches across the country) are often well-informed and willing to advise. Otherwise, your best bet could be a teenage neighbour. Buying secondhand on the web can also be a great way to snap up a bargain.
FACT FILE – a selection of what is available
Phone Companies
France Télécom www.francetelecom.fr (English + French)
9 Télécom www.9telecom.fr
Cegetel 7 www.cegetel.fr (French only)
Tele 2 www.tele2.fr (French only)
Phonexpat www.phonexpat.fr (English + French, bills arrive in English and can be sent by email)
One.Tel www.onetel.fr (only in French)
Mobile Phones
The three main providers are:
Orange www.orange.fr (English + Fr)
SFR www.sfr.fr (English + Fr)
Bouygues Télécom www.bouyguestelecom.fr
Internet
Free www.free.fr (only in French)
Club-Internet www.club-internet.fr only in French
Wanadoo www.wanadoo.fr (English + French)
Clara.Net www.claranet.fr (French only)
Television Channels – The Big Six
TF1
Popular programming, derided by French intellectuals
France 2
State-run popular channel, slightly more up market than TF1
France 3
Think how BBC Two used to be
La Cinq/Arte
Educational programmes, discussions, films
Canal Plus
A pay-channel showing recent films and sports (it has an exclusive deal to screen the French football league matches, which is why some bars advertise that they have this channel)
M6
Cheap music channel also featuring horror movies and zappy news bulletins
STEP BY STEP
Phone France Télécom free from a phone box (1014) or by surfing to www.agence.francetelecom.com.
While waiting for the engineer, buy yourself a phone, ‘une poste de téléphone’, so that you can use the line as soon as it’s installed. In country districts get a classic model for use during power cuts as well as a fancy walk-about-the-house model.
You can subscribe to a free messagerie at the switchboard, where you only pay for your calls to pick up your messages, which is useful because apart from taking messages when you’re out sunbathing, the switchboard also takes them when you’re making phone calls or surfing the web.
Television licences (l’imposition redevance audiovisuelle) are paid annually alongside the taxe d’habitation and the cost in 2006 was €116 (£79.60) per household.
Disclaimer
This dossier article is intended as a general guide only. For specific information relative to your own situation, please use the contact details in the factfile. The information given here was correct at the time of publication. However, if you notice a gremlin causing typos or any other inaccuracies, do please let us know.
Updates
This article was last updated 15 September 2007