Telephone, Fax, Internet

As a general warning for telecommunication services, be extremely careful what you sign up for. Many operators bind you for a minimum period, typically one or two years. Cancellation fees may be expensive. There are laws to help consumers cancel a mobile phone contract after one year even if the binding period is two years, but consumer law does not apply to business subscriptions. Particular attention is needed if combining several services into one contract, for example an Internet subscription with mobile phone. Some of these contracts are made to make it difficult to leave, meaning you could lose your e-mail addresses and Internet subscription if you cancel the mobile phone. In many cases, the operators seem to go to quite some effort to blur the conditions and make it difficult to figure out what the conditions are. They may also add a binding period of for example two years if for example you add a mobile phone to an existing Internet contract without binding period. You may end up with some very complicated contractual conditions if you bundle several services into one contract. That is precisely what the operators want. The more the customer is confused and ill-informed, the less he or she will be able to insist on their rights.

France Telecom has no monopoly on the physical line connection any more. That means that you can order you telephone line from anyone you wish. However, in practice, to create a new physical phone line, you may still need to ask France Telecom to install it before you can pass to another company. Beware that contrary to certain countries, the previous subscriber's phone number is never carried over to a new subscriber. The only thing you can do with the previous subscriber's number is to identify the line. You cannot use it for signing up for any type of subscription in that number.

If you want a high-speed Internet connection in addition to your telephone, please skip the rest of this chapter and go directly to Internet.

If you read this, it means that all you want is a phone line, perhaps a fax and perhaps a dial-up Internet connection via a classic phone line (RTC).

Your most simple choice is a basic France Telecom phone line. You pay a subscription and all call charges to them.

As France Telecom doesn't offer the lowest call rates, you may want to use a secondary operator, either by dialling a code before each call or by setting up an automatic pre-selection to route all calls through the secondary operator.

In either case, you still pay the France Telecom subscription but you pay the secondary operator for calls routed through them.

Note that special-rate numbers such as those beginning with 08 are always routed through France Telecom and billed by them.

General telecom information

Telecom Consumer Information by the regulator ARCEP.

The French Telephone Numbering Plan
French Premium Rate Numbers

Premium rate telephone numbers are common in France. A large number of businesses and public offices use such telephone numbers to boost their revenues by making people pay for calling them. Whereas many companies in the UK and the US seem to encourage potential customers to call them by providing a freephone number, many French companies seem to believe that premium rate numbers will attract new business. Watch out for numbers beginning with "08". Some may be free, some cheap, others expensive. The price may be higher from mobile (cell) phones. 

Internet service providers and other businesses selling to consumers are obliged to provide a non-premium rate number for calls concerning the fulfilment of contractual obligations or complaining. They sometimes hide it and publish an overcharged number, so may have to go searching yourself on their web sites.

To circumvent premium rate numbers, you can often find a company's geographical phone number by looking the company up on a business information site or trying to find a normal-rate number on detax.fr/.

Further information: 
- Wikipedia: Telephone numbers in France
- Telecoms regulator ARCEP: the French telephone numbering plan
- Telecoms regulator ARCEP: French premium rate telephone numbers

Disputes

Le Médiateur des Communications Électroniques. The French ombudsman for electronic communications.

Note: When comparing minute rates between the operators, then don't forget to count the initial charges that are sometimes well hidden. Most fixed operators bill per second, but there are usually other charges:
Connection charge: Fixed charge per call. This could cost as much as a 10 minute call.
Crédit temps: "Credit time". The classic French system of charging a fixed amount for a specified minimum call duration before switching to second billing.
Higher initial second rate: A recent method to look cheap. Calls may be billed per second from the first second, but the seconds during the first minute are more expensive.

Adapters

You can buy adapters for foreign telephones, faxes and modems from specialist stores. A foreign modem may or may not support the French telephone system. If it does not, you need a converter. If it does, you just need an adaptor plug that you can buy in a shop.

Fax

You are settling in France for professional purposes and would like to have a fax? Do you share your voice line or do you buy a separate fax line? The choice is not obvious. Sharing your voice line means people cannot fax to you during perhaps lengthy phone calls. You also need to filter voice and fax calls, meaning that if you don't answer quickly enough, voice callers may hear a fax tone. If you transfer calls to your mobile, for example, faxes will be lost. A separate fax line is expensive, because you need to reserve a complete telephone subscription for it, and you won't be using much of its capacity. If you don't get your new fax number on the off-directory list (liste rouge) immediately, then you will be spammed with commercial faxes after just a couple of months. It's illegal, unless the receiver is a business, but no one cares, and public prosecutors in most cases cannot be bothered to pursue complaints. In my own case, I have estimated that about half of an ink cartridge has been wasted on ink-intensive commercial faxes, and when I needed to receive my annual accounts from my accountant, there was no more ink left; the spammers had wasted it. The solution: Receive your faxes by e-mail. There are several providers, and they issue you with your own fax number. Be sure that it's a geographic number, for example in Paris, and not an overcharged 08-number that may not be reachable from abroad. www.arobase.org/services/fax.htm has already gathered a small list of providers. I went for www.comparateleasyfax.com, which provides a decent service for a decent price: €29.90 incl. VAT per 3 months for unlimited fax reception; cheaper if you pay for a year at a time. They set it up the same day. It's really simple - much simpler than configuring a fax machine. Faxes are converted to image files and sent to you by e-mail and also accessible on their server on the Internet. I have used it for many year with never even the slightest hint of a reason to complain. It may be possible to find a cheaper service, but this one is a no-hassle service, and if you run a business, you have other things to do than chasing a bad provider. I do NOT get a commission, but between all the bad service you get in France, it's only fair to point out when something's working. Not only is it cheaper than a line subscription, you also save the ink, and you can access your faxes during travel. Spam is deleted at a push on a button. Of course, you need a mailbox that is large enough for several image files. Google's Gmail will do if your ISP doesn't give you enough space. It is also advisable to be on high-speed Internet. If you want the convenience of faxing by sliding the paper in a fax instead of using scanner/computer/modem, then you can plug the fax machine into your voice line and deactivate automatic answering, as it will be handling only outgoing faxes. You can also leave it without ink and paper. Just deactivate the printing of a 'send confirmation' page. If you have a scanner and you're happy doing it all on your computer, then you can save the fax machine too.

Mobile / Cell

Recycle your old mobile phone. Links to sites that purchase used mobile phones.

In France, there are four mobile operators (Free, SFR, Orange, Bouygues) with their own networks and more and more virtual operators that rent the physical network from the four aforementioned operators. In French, the English term MVNO - Mobile Virtual Network Operator - has been retained. They are also known as opérateurs virtuels. Most of France is covered by these networks, and the physical operators are working together to provide common cover of the remaining parts. Only Orange covers Monaco entirely. Free entered the market in 2012. Until they have fully developed their own physical network, latest in 2018, they use Orange's network.

It is very easy to change to another operator and keep your mobile phone number, and it only takes 10 days. The procedure is:

1. Verify if you have any binding period (engagement) with your existing operator. Within the first 12 months, it is generally too expensive to leave. If your binding period is longer than 12 months, however, the law entitles you to leave from the 13th month against paying 25% of the subscription fee for the remaining binding period. Beware that Orange has introduced a controversial pack called Orange Open that prevents you from cancelling just the mobile service. If you cancel this, you cancel the entire package and lose your Orange.fr e-mail addresses too. Be sure to understand the full contractual consequences of cancelling. Do not cancel at this time, or you will lose your phone number!
2. Ask your existing operator for your RIO number. One way of doing this is to call 3179 from your mobile phone. The RIO should be sent by SMS. You need this to keep your number when signing up with the new operator.
3. Sign up with the new operator and be sure to provide the exact RIO number and your existing phone number. Follow their procedure. They will cancel your existing operator.

Conso.net: How to change mobile operator.

Add-on operators for cheap international calls

These operators require that you first have a cellphone operator from which you call the add-on operator's server in France. The add-on operator then bills you for the international call instead of the cellphone operator. Because the traditional cellphone operators charge an arm and a leg for international calls, there are savings to be had if you regularly phone abroad from your French mobile while in France.

Teleconnect. "Anglopack" offer from Budget Telecom, all in English. They offer landline, mobile and ADSL. No dégroupage.
Vonroz. Fixed monthly prices for unlimited calls. Note, you have to pre-store each number abroad on their system before you can call a number.
MobileGlobe. Beware that the savings they advertise do not include the cost of the mobile call to their server. They charge in steppings of a minute at a time (hidden in their T&C). One headline claims it works from abroad, which is incorrect and contradictory to what they say elsewhere. You must prepay into an account - which will be cleared by them if you don't use the service for a few months. They reserve the right to modify their prices at any time without notice. That is illegal under European and French consumer law.

The Physical Networks

There are four physical, independent networks in France. Only Orange covers the whole of Monaco. If you have a bad signal where you are, a swap to another network may solve the problem. If you have signed a contract with an engagement preventing you from cancelling the first 12 or 24 months (typical if a phone is included) and you find out that you don't have a signal at home, then you are entitled to cancel the contract anyway, but you must act quickly and send the cancellation by recorded letter with acknowledgement of receipt. When choosing an operator, take into account which physical network they use. You could ask neighbours which network gives them an acceptable signal. Roaming on another physical network than the one you're attached to is impossible in France. Only if you have a foreign SIM card can you roam between the French networks, depending on the agreements between the operators.

On the following three sites, you can study your local cover for the three physical networks. Free is still developing their network, using Orange's infrastructure in the meantime:
Orange: http://couverture-reseau.orange.fr/france/netenmap.php
SFR: www.sfr.fr/assistance/reseau-sfr-france/
Bouygues: www.couverture.bouyguestelecom.fr/eci_11/accueil/index.html

Operators with their own networks

Free. Low-cost operator introduced on the mobile market in 2012, offering unbeatable prices.
Bouygues
Orange. The most expensive operator in general but not better service. Watch out for their Orange Open pack that binds you on hand and feet, in reality preventing you from leaving to another operator. If you want to cancel just the mobile phone part, you also lose your entire Internet subscription and your orange.fr e-mail addresses.
SFR  

Virtual operators that rent their network (MVNO)

Brand names from the physical operators or MVNOs

Fnac. Rents its network from Orange. Fnac is a major media store chain.
M6 Mobile is provided by Orange.
U Mobile. Rents its network from Orange. Super U is a major supermarket chain.
Universal is provided by Bouygues.

Internet

A typical ADSL offer in 2011 will be at least 8 Mbit ADSL, a VoIP phone number (telephone by Internet), unlimited phone calls to landlines in France and several countries, and more or less unlimited calls to French mobile numbers. Depending on the quality of the local network, a pack of TV channels will be included. A typical price is €30 a month. This offer replaces a classic (RTC) phone line so no France Telecom subscription is needed, on condition that your telephone exchange has been 'degrouped' (other companies than France Telecom have installed their equipment at the telephone exchange). 

You can usually send SMS via the Internet, but it is not cheaper than doing it from a mobile phone, and most mobile phone offers include a number of SMS per month.

In a business offer, you will typically get a second VoIP phone line, fax by Internet with a separate fax number, and an entry in the yellow pages. A business offer typically costs 50% more than an offer for individuals. Customer service and reliability is not better.

There is a high availability of ADSL throughout France, although some rural areas are still not covered. 

Beware that if you use VoIP and your Internet connection or the mains supply goes, so does your phone - and TV channels if your pack includes them. With a classic RTC phone, you could still use your phone during a power drop or Internet outage, since it is powered through the phone line (unless it's a wireless or other model that needs a mains plug).

The sound quality of the VoIP lines is typically better than the older RTC lines in my experience. 

If you have a private alarm system that uses a phone line to keep in contact with a call centre, you need to verify that it is compatible with using ADSL on the same line. 

In cities, cable operators provide a similar service.

Bi-directional satellite access is available at affordable prices in case you cannot find any other reasonable access.

A few local communities are installing wi-fi for local cover. 

It is a stated government policy that the entire population should have access to high-speed Internet in one form or another, and work is in progress to assure that it will happen. 

The only thing that lags severely behind is customer service and reliability, which are lousy everywhere. You have a choice between bad and worse. Deadlines are frequently not respected, and you may find yourself without Internet for several days or weeks. If you are running a business that could collapse without Internet, you may want to consider two independent Internet connections, for example by ADSL and satellite or ADSL and a mobile broadband card (3G or 4G). Just taking two different ADSL offers isn't independent enough, because they may well use the same physical network. Even with a mobile offer, you would need to be sure it doesn't end up in the same local cables or with the same ISP.

ISDN lines (RNIS in French) are competitively priced and may be worth considering for Internet connection if no other solution is available, but ISDN is becoming telecommunications history what Internet access is concerned. France Télécom call this service Numeris. It is available throughout the territory.

Change of ISP

There is a high probability that you will be fed up with your ISP one day or another because of the high frequency of poor service and technical problems. You can change your ISP as you wish, but the inconvenience is that your Internet connection is interrupted during the switchover, often during an unknown period. If your Internet access is by ADSL, the only way to get around this is to have a second physical phone line installed if you don't already have one, and to order the new Internet connection on the phone line that doesn't already have Internet installed. Once the new connection is working, you can cancel the previous connection. If you run a business that depends on Internet, this may well be worth the additional cost. The inconvenience is that your phone number changes.

Before changing ISP, you may also need to consider that each ISP doesn't own its own network all the way to your house. They may well pass through France Telecom cables, so that no matter which ISP you use, depending on your local telephone exchange configuration, all ISPs may be concerned if France Telecom or someone else cuts a phone cable.

Internet Service Providers

In French: FAI: Fournisseur d'Accès Internet

Hints: Check cancellation fees. Check connection fees. Check if a modem is sold/rented and the cost. Check the cost of the helpline. Check that they don't stack options you don't want on by default.

Test your line on several ISPs for eligibility:
Test-ligne-adsl.com

ADSL:

Dartybox.
Teleconnect. "Anglopack" offer from Budget Telecom, all in English. They offer landline, mobile and ADSL. No dégroupage.
Orange (France Telecom). The most expensive operator in general but not better service. Watch out for their Orange Open pack that binds you on hand and feet, in reality preventing you from leaving to another operator. If you want to cancel just the mobile phone part, you also lose your entire Internet subscription and your orange.fr e-mail addresses. Unreliable, poor customer service. Incompetent technical service. Unable to respect contractual dates in case of a removal, leaving clients (business or not) without Internet for maybe one or two weeks. Unable to diagnose disconnection problems properly. Contractual deadline for reconnecting a line in case of an incident is 24 hours for business clients, but they often don't respect it. Messy web site. 24-hour help line. No sense of urgency to assure continued service, even for business clients.
Akéo.
Club Budget. Targets expats and non-degrouped areas.
Free. Cheap but unreliable, poor customer service, high cancellation fee. No sense of urgency to assure continued service.
Bouygues. Also known as Bbox. Unstable connection quality. Help line closes at 10 PM. As if programmed, at least half of the disconnection problems arrive after 10 PM. Contractual deadline for reconnecting a line in case of an incident is two weeks, although in practice it may be one to two days. No sense of urgency to assure continued service, even for business clients. High cancellation fee. If the fax service is occasionally out of order, they don't really care even if it's included in the contract.
Alice. Owned by Free.
Nordnet.
Prixtel. ADSL for €20 a month. Sulky customer service, at least on their mobile offer.
SFR. Unreliable, poor customer service. When they bought German Telecom's French ISP Club-Internet, they cut their clients off for migration without warning for several days/weeks. They later admitted that a much higher percentage of former Club-Internet clients had cancelled their subscription after the migration, not surprisingly. No sense of urgency to assure continued service.
Virgin will soon launch an ADSL offer, renting their network from SFR (updated 6 June 2011).

Cable:

Numéricable

Various ISPs

Kiwi by e-téra. This company uses a mix of fibre and wireless technology to provide broadband to remote locations not covered by ADSL.
Wibox. This company uses a mix of fibre and wireless technology to provide broadband to remote locations not covered by ADSL.

Satellite

If you need a high-speed Internet connection and no other services are available, consider getting a satellite connection. Bi-directional links are now affordable. 
With a bi-directional link, both upload and download pass through the satellite link. 
With a mono-directional link, only the download passes through the satellite link and you need a phone line and an old-fashioned 56k modem connection for upload. The mono-directional solutions are now outdated and will presumably disappear in the foreseeable future.
Numeo. High-speed bi-directional satellite Internet connection for the French. Also Wimax and Wifi. Soon ADSL. No prices online.
Sat2way. High-speed bi-directional satellite Internet connection for the French. No prices online.
Nordnet. High-speed bi-directional satellite Internet connection for the French. No prices online. Subsidiary of France Telecom/Orange.
Viveole. High-speed bi-directional satellite Internet connection for the French market via Astra. Affordable prices close to ADSL prices.
skyDSL. Mono-directional satellite Internet connection. Not recommended.
SES-ASTRA. ASTRA main site. Points to Vivéole.

Sites comparing several ISPs:

Minitel

is the French predecessor for the Internet. They rolled it out to the public at least 10 years before the Internet started getting known, and they were the only ones in the world to do so. You can access servers, such as for example the white and yellow pages through your telephone line. But beware that many services are charged at considerable minute rates. In its traditional form, it is a low speed, low-tech, text only system, but it works. If you don't want a special minitel device, you can install software on your PC to make it act as a minitel. All you need is the PC, a modem or ISDN connection, and the software. If you use the new Iminitel software, which is free of charge, you can access all the Minitel services through a single access number, 3622, and through normal modem or ISDN speed.

Minitel is on its way out, as the Internet is much more powerful. France Telecom has announced the end of Minitel on 30 June 2012. I don't see any need for Minitel anymore, and I would not advise spending a single euro on Minitel equipment or software.

Links for accessing Minitel through the Internet
Minitel. Access the Minitel network through the Internet.
Iminitel. Free software to access Minitel at high speed from a PC.

Computers

French keyboards use AZERTY layout, whereas most other keyboards use the QWERTY layout. This means that a few letters - and many of the other symbols - are placed in different places. However, the French keyboard obviously allows direct or composite typing of French accented letters, whereas for example a UK keyboard makes that impossible without entering the 3- or 4-digit code for the letter. If you work regularly with different keyboards, then you are likely to keep making typing errors. Under Windows, you can plug in a different keyboard and quite easily tell windows what layout it is.

Software bought in France is, not surprisingly, in French. Fortunately, Internet shopping has made it easy to order the language version you want from other countries. Ordering from Amazon UK or simply downloading from the manufacturer is an easy way to buy English software. If you prefer using English software, then you wouldn't have much use of a new computer with pre-installed, French software.

Without being able to produce statistics, it is my impression that the French electricity supply suffers more power drops than what I was used to in the UK, Germany, Luxembourg and Denmark. Many of these power drops last only a few seconds, but that is enough to shut down a computer the hard way. In windy areas like the Rhône valley, where the Mistral can be quite strong, it seems that power lines are regularly damaged by the wind, not having been designed to withstand strong wind or maybe not having been maintained correctly. Given the high number of power drops lasting only a few seconds, it would seem that the French power grid does not have the built-in protection against these interruptions that exist in other countries' power grids. A UPS battery backup power supply, called onduleur in France, is a good idea to prevent data loss, and many use them in France. It will assure that a power drop lasting only a few minutes will have no impact on your computer, and it will give you time to shut down your computer correctly if the power drop lasts longer.

Computer tube screens from countries south of Equator may not display properly in France. Cathode ray screens are manufactured with a built-in compensation for the Earth's magnetic field, which are different on the northern and southern hemispheres. Before bringing such equipment, check with the manufacturer if it will work. LCD screens are not concerned.

Television & Video

Right to have an antenna

As part of the basic freedom to communicate, French law assures that every household has the right to fit the antenna needed to receive the TV channels of his or her choice. That right stems from law number 66-457. There may be some formalities to respect, particularly in an apartment building or a rented property, but as a matter of principle, the request for an antenna cannot be refused, even if for example cable is installed in the building, whether it is a satellite dish or other type of antenna. It is not enough to write a rule book for the apartment building to turn down a demand for an antenna. Such a rule book cannot override the law.

Terrestrial TV

The analogue standards for terrestrial analogue TV and VHS differ from country to country. Detailed technical information here.

• The UK broadcasts in PAL-I. Video tapes are recorded in PAL.
• France broadcasts in SECAM. Video tapes may be recorded in SECAM or PAL.
• Most other European countries broadcast in PAL-B/G. Video tapes are recorded in PAL.
• America broadcasts in NTSC. Video tapes are recorded in NTSC.

However, the analogue standards are becoming history as country by country converts to digital terrestrial broadcasting, in France known as TNT - Télévision Numérique Terrestre. The government site tousaunumerique.fr (in French) gives the technical details about the migration. After the migration is complete and all the analogue transmitters have been turned off, there will be some 'black spots' without terrestrial cover. In these places, an alternative way of receiving TV must be used: satellite, ADSL, cable, or fibre optic.

Analogue TV sets sold in France are nearly all multistandard supporting at least PAL and SECAM, and often also NTSC.

TV sets sold after 2008 have digital tuners built in. Older TV sets need a set-top box to receive digital TV.

VHS

VHS tapes follow the analogue TV signal standards (PAL, SECAM, NTSC). Video tapes bought in France may be PAL or SECAM.

VHS video cassette recorders sold in France are nearly all multistandard supporting at least PAL and SECAM, and often also NTSC.

Transcoders

In case you need to convert recordings or other audiovisual signals from one analogue format to another, or from digital to analogue etc., a large number of transcoders is available. The colour balance may not be perfect for the cheapest models.

Goyona France
Vortex
World-Import

TV on Internet in reduced quality

AB Web / BIS TV. 20 free channels on the Internet, including the French/English news channel France24. You need to enter a French address and phone number. You will easily find a French address on viamichelin. All you need is a postcode, town, street and street number, then a phone number on the white or yellow pages. You will need to download and install software from the site. An English version of the software is available.
TF1. French TV channel 1.
CanalSat. CanalSat is the main satellite package but they also have a subscription for TV on the web.

Cable, ADSL, Fibre Optic providers in full quality

In cities and large towns, many properties are connected to cable TV. This may be less interesting for foreigners, because the vast majority of the channels are in French.

NumeriCable. Cable.

ADSL: Alice, Bouygues, DartyBox, Free, Orange, SFR. See above in the list of ISPs.

Satellite

Complete list of TV satellites, channels and frequencies: Lyngsat

Free reception of the same channels as TNT

Fransat.co.uk. Site in English. Broadcasts from the Atlantic Bird 3 satellite at 5 degrees west.
Fransat.fr. Site in French.

TNTSAT. Site in French. Broadcasts from the Astra 1H, 1L, 1M satellites at 19.2 degrees east.

There is a Wikipedia article about these packages, but the article is presently only in French.

Subscription packages

CanalSat. The main French satellite package, broadcast from the Astra 1H, 1L, 1M satellites at 19.2 degrees east.
AB Sat / Bis TV. Alternative satellite package. Broadcasts from the Atlantic Bird 3 satellite at 5 degrees west.

Satellite Radio

French satellite radio is available on the Atlantic Bird 3 and Astra 1M satellites.

British TV by Satellite

BBC 1-4, BBC News 24, CBBC, Cbeebies, ITV 1-4, Channel 4, E4, More 4, Channel Five, Sky News, CNN, Euronews, France24 in English, Al Jazeera in English, Film4, True Movies 1-2, Men & Motors, Movies4men 1-2, Zone Reality, Zone Horror and various other English TV and radio channels are broadcast in clear from the Astra 2D satellite at 28.2 degrees east, which can easily be received throughout France with as little as a 65 cm satellite dish. These channels offer a vast choice of quality movies. All the channels mentioned in this paragraph can be tuned in with any digital satellite receiver and without having a card/subscription. Before rushing out to buy an expensive SKY package, take the time to check out the free channels on Lyngsat or elsewhere to find out if you really need more channels than what you can get free of charge. Programme listings are available on tvguide.co.uk.

The exact frequencies are listed at the satellite listing site Lyngsat. Depending on your receiver, the frequencies may not be pre-coded, in which case you'll have to add them manually. BBC 3 and 4, CBBC and Cbeebies have the particular feature that they turn off the signal when programmes end, so you need to tune them in during daytime for CBBC and Cbeebies and evening for BBC 3 and 4.

If you want the full SKY package, you need a SKY card and a Digibox to decode the signals. SKY will only sell the card and the decoder to someone who can provide a UK address. A few shops abroad sell the decoders and the subscriptions. 

If you want to watch programs from more than one satellite, then you need a motorised satellite dish and a satellite receiver that supports it. A satellite dish can only receive channels from the satellite it is physically pointed to, so if you fit a fixed dish and point it to CanalSat on Astra 1M, you cannot receive the UK channels on Astra 2D. That a dish is motorised means that a motor fitted on the dish physically moves the dish to point it to the satellite corresponding to the TV or radio channel you select on the receiver. Once the receiver is programmed, the dish moving is automatic. With some technical and DIY skill, you can fit it yourself. Many French satellite firms will only fit fixed dishes, either because they are not competent for motorised dishes or to avoid complications with customers who don't know how to use it once fitted.

Danish TV by Satellite

Danish expats can find Danish satellite packages on www.viasat.dk.

French TV Licence

If you have a TV set, you must pay a TV licence, even if you cannot or do not tune in to a single bonjour.  See the tax section.

French TV Stations

Films broadcast on the French channels are mostly dubbed in French, leaving little pleasure for English speakers. Arte broadcasts original versions with subtitles. TF1 and M6 occasionally transmits both the original soundtrack and the dubbed sound on satellite, cable and ADSL.

The 'historic' TV channels

TF1. French TV channel 1. Some movies in original version. Can be viewed directly on the Internet.
France 2. French TV channel 2.
France 3. French TV channel 3. Regional versions and news.
France 5. French TV channel 5.
Arte. French/German TV Arte. Movies in original version.
Canal +. French TV Canal Plus. Coded.
M6. French TV channel 6. Some movies in original version.

Digital channels (cable, satellite, ADSL ...)

France 4. French TV channel 4.
France Ô. For and about French overseas territories.
France24. English and French news. France's answer to CNN.
TV5 Europe. French channel for an international public.

Further channels are listed on 
Wikipedia
CanalSat
NumeriCable

French Radio Stations

RadioStationWorld: French radio stations on the Internet.
Radio France.

Other TV and Radio Related Sites

Télésatellite. Satellite TV magazine.

© Copyright Finn Skovgaard 2001, 2011. All rights reserved.