Summary of broadband development in France
France commits to covering its entire territory with high-speed broadband (30 Mbps) by 2022. Furthermore, the National Broadband Plan, France Très Haut Débit, foresees extending optical fibre to subscribers throughout the country by 2025.
National broadband strategy and policy
Responsible authorities
- A key actor in the state level broadband development is the Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (Ministère de l'Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique).
- The National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (l'Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires) is responsible for implementing France’s broadband strategy. The agency operates a task force in charge of the national broadband plan (France Très Haut Débit).
- The French Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications and Post (Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes, Arcep) is the main body responsible for regulatory measures concerning the expansion of France’s broadband networks.
Main aims and measures for broadband development
The French broadband target defined by the France Très Haut Débit aims to achieve 100% coverage with 30 Mbps by 2022 and extend fibre to subscribers throughout the country by 2025. France predominantly opts for establishing and widening its broadband network infrastructure through FTTH technology. Arcep leads the development of 5G network in France.
Broadband mapping: Created in November 2011, the Digital Observatory collects and interprets data to assess the impact of digital technologies in the economy and to compare France with other countries of the European Union.
National and regional broadband financial instruments
French officials expect that the national strategy will require mobilisation of private and public investments of up to EUR 20 billion. The Fund for the Digital Society (Fonds pour la société numerique) provides a combination of public loans and funding to support the roll-out of ultrafast broadband by the French government. Infrastructure projects that are eligible include works on backhaul networks (FTTN), passive fibre optic networks (FTTH), customer access (FTTH), access for public institutions (education, health, public administration), support for Wi-Max and/or satellite receivers as well as feasibility studies for planned roll-out projects.
France assigned €3.3 billion to the implementation of the plan Très Haut Débit. Additional €240 million were allocated to boost connectivity in rural areas with an allocation of €240 million (component 9), as part of the France’s Recovery and Resilience Plan.
Data on broadband development and technologies in France
For the latest data on broadband coverage, subscriptions and penetration, coverage of different broadband technologies and costs, check the scoreboard reports and the country reports of the Digital Economy & Society Index (DESI).
Spectrum assignments for wireless broadband
For details on harmonised spectrum assignments consult the European 5G Observatory.
Publications and press documents
English
- France - country reports on performances in digitisation: connectivity, digital skills, digital public services and more
- Study on National Broadband Plans
- Guide to High-Speed Broadband Investment
- Broadband Connectivity Reports and Analyses
- Mobile and fixed broadband prices in Europe
- Study on broadband coverage in Europe
French
Contact information
Ministry of Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty (Ministère de l'Économie, des Finances et de la Souveraineté industrielle et numérique)
Address: 139 rue de Bercy, 75572 Paris, France
Contact via email
Phone: +33 1 40 04 04 04
Website
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques et des postes)
Address: 7 square Max Hymans, 75730 Paris, France
Contact via email
Phone: + 33 1 40 47 70 00
Website
Latest News
Related Content
Big Picture
Find current information on broadband development in each country, as well as national strategies and policies for developing broadband.
See Also
Sweden’s national broadband plan, adopted in 2016, has the vision of an entirely connected Sweden and has goals for both mobile coverage and for high-speed broadband connections for households and businesses.
Digital connectivity and 5G rollout are among the ten strategic priorities of the Spain Digital 2025 Agenda.
Slovakia has set the long-term objective of providing all households with access to ultra-fast internet by 2030.
Romania’s broadband plan focuses on building up a national broadband network as a first step towards achieving the EU connectivity targets.
The Agenda Portugal Digital aims at development of a digital infrastructure that allows citizens to take advantage of the new opportunities offered by technologies.
Poland’s national broadband plan 2025 is in line with the EU’s Gigabit Society targets.
All households in the Netherlands should have the opportunity to access broadband networks of at least 100 Mbps and a vast majority should be taking advantage of 1 Gbps by 2023.
Malta’s broadband policy is technology-neutral and favours a competitive market environment.
The development of a communication infrastructure with a target of gigabit broadband access throughout the country is one of the priorities in the governmental programme of Luxembourg.
Lithuania aims to provide 100 Mbps by 2027 to rural areas as well supporting the Gigabit society targets 2025.
Latvia supports the Gigabit society targets and aims at 100 Mbps, upgradable to gigabit, for urban and rural areas as well as 5G coverage for all large urban areas.
The Italian Strategy for Ultra Broadband Towards the Gigabit Society aims to provide gigabit connectivity to all by 2026.
The national broadband plan for Ireland foresees that by 2026 all premises in Ireland will have access to high-speed broadband.
Hungary’s draft National Digitalisation Strategy 2021-2030 aims to achieve a target of 95% of households covered by gigabit networks by 2030.
The Greek Digital Transformation Bible 2020-2025 highlights connectivity as one of the five strategic axes and acknowledges the Gigabit Society 2025 targets.
The 2021 coalition agreement of the German Federal Government identifies the priority goal of a nationwide supply of FTTH and 5G networks by 2025. The federal government has also developed a 5G Strategy for Germany.
The Finnish authorities favour a competition-driven, fibre-based network roll-out assisted by public funds for underserved areas and advice for local municipalities on how to deploy broadband networks.
Estonia has established basic broadband coverage throughout the country. The Estonian Digital Agenda sets ambitious targets for 2030.
A number of political initiatives aiming at nation-wide fixed and mobile broadband coverage support Danish broadband goals. The Government works towards making Denmark a digital frontrunner by creating a foundation for Danish businesses to exploit digital technologies.
The National Plan for the Development of Very High Capacity Networks, approved in March 2021, defines the strategic approach of the Czech Republic to the construction of VHCN.
Cyprus’ broadband plan sets strategic objectives for 2021-2025 and includes legislative and regulatory interventions as well as practical support for the development of broadband infrastructure.
Croatian National Plan for Broadband Development 2021–2027 responds to the European Gigabit Society objectives 2025 and partially to the 2030 digital targets.
The National Broadband Infrastructure Plan for Next Generation Access "Connected Bulgaria" and the Policy on electronic communications were updated and adopted in August 2020.
Belgium’s broadband strategy is incorporated into a broader policy strategy Digital Belgium. The aim of the national plan for fixed and mobile broadband is to eliminate the remaining white areas where high speed services are unavailable. By lowering costs and reducing...
Austria’s broadband strategy focuses on the nationwide supply of Gigabit connections (fixed and mobile) by 2030.