Digital connectivity in France

Summary of digital connectivity development in France

France commits to covering its entire territory with high-speed digital connectivity (30 Mbps) by 2022. Furthermore, the national digital connectivity plan, France Très Haut Débit, foresees extending optical fibre to subscribers throughout the country by 2025.

National digital connectivity strategy and policy

Responsible authorities

• The national Broadband Competence Office (BCO) of France is the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Directorate General for Enterprise (DGE), in charge of digital connectivity development. (Direction Générale des Entreprises).
• The National Agency for Territorial Cohesion (l'Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires) is responsible for implementing France’s digital connectivity strategy. The agency operates a task force in charge of the national digital connectivity 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 digital connectivity networks.

Main aims and measures for digital connectivity development

The French digital connectivity 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 digital connectivity network infrastructure through FTTH technology. Arcep leads the development of 5G network in France.

Regarding digital connectivity mapping, the Digital Observatory, created in November 2011, 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 digital connectivity financial instruments

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 digital connectivity development and technologies in France

For the latest data on digital connectivity coverage, subscriptions and penetration, coverage of different digital connectivity technologies check the country reports of the Digital Economy & Society Index (DESI).

Spectrum assignments for wireless digital connectivity

For details on harmonised spectrum assignments, please consult the European 5G Observatory report.

National and EU publications and press documents

English

• Broadband Investment Handbook
• Mobile and Fixed Broadband Prices in Europe 2022
• Study on National Broadband Plans in the EU27
• Broadband Connectivity Reports and Analyses

French

• National Broadband Plan “France Très Haut Débit”

Contact information

BCO France (national Broadband Competence Office): the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industrial and Digital Sovereignty, Directorate General for Enterprise (DGE)

Address: 139 Rue de Bercy, 75572 Paris, France 
Contact via email
Phone: +33 1 53 18 34 97 
Website

French National Agency for the Cohesion of Territories (Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires) ANCT

Address: 20 avenue de Ségur, 75007 Paris, France
Contact via email
Phone: +33 1 85 58 60 00
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