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Last updated at 23:32 PM, Fri, 3 Sep
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At last - high-speed internet for all
The solution is satellite
Those remaining households in France who do not have access to high-speed internet will now be able to get the service via satellite.
The government has announced that four providers will be supplying the service for under €35 a month.
The download speeds should be up to 2 megabytes a second.
The decision is part of the government’s commitment to its ‘France digital by 2012’ campaign launched in 2008.
Though conventional broadband can now reach the vast majority of homes, around two percent – mostly in rural areas – do not have access, which has an impact on job creation and work as well as leisure activities.
The four companies offering the service are Nordnet – part of Orange - Vivéole, SHD - part of SFR - and Connection verte.
‘These are accessible from all of metropolitan France and cost less than €35 a month,’ said a government statement.
The firms will be using the SES Astra and Eutelsat satellites.
In June the government announced a €2 billion scheme to provide ‘very high speed’ internet to much of France, with half the cash earmarked for less densely populated regions.
Nordnet are already offering their service for €34.90 a month but as with al the four firms there is a catch; the level of downloads is limited, in this case to 2 gitabytes a month.
Connection verte also have a download restriction but this is higher at 4.7 gb/s and their prices start at €19.90 a month.
SHD’s download restriction starts at 3.2 gb/s a month and their prices at €29.90 a month.
Vivéole’s various offers start with a 2 gb/s download restriction and a fee of €24.90 a month.