Home Internet in France: Box, Fibre, Installation.

Start with JARI.

Setting up home internet in France means choosing a "box," checking fibre eligibility, subscribing (often with bank details), and sometimes waiting for a technician. Lots of steps in administrative French. JARI's Professional Services and community help you compare offers, subscribe, and track the installation, with no nasty surprises on commitments or fees.

The "box": what is it?

In France, home internet runs through a box (the unit provided by the operator) that usually combines internet + landline + TV. The main providers:

• Orange (Livebox) — renowned network, premium service.
• Free (Freebox) — good value, rich options.
• SFR (SFR Box) and its brand RED Box (fixed price).
• Bouygues (Bbox) and Sosh Box (economical, no TV).

Fibre or ADSL?

• Fibre offers very high speed (ideal for streaming, remote work, gaming): prefer it if your home is eligible.
• ADSL/VDSL (over the phone line) remains an option where fibre isn't deployed yet, with lower speed.

Always check eligibility at your address before subscribing (online test at each operator).

Prices (benchmarks).

A fibre box "no TV, no commitment" runs around €25/month — and that's where the best deals are. JARI's pick, the three to compare first:

• B&You Pure Fibre (Bouygues) — ≈€24.99/month, up to 2 Gb/s, stable price (no year-2 hike).
• Freebox (Free) — ≈€24.99/month, Wi-Fi 7, setup fees often waived.
• Sosh Boost Fibre (Orange) — ≈€27.99/month, the best upload speed of the three, on the Orange network.

All three are no-commitment and run on the big networks: you don't need to go with Orange, Bouygues or SFR "directly" on a pricier contract. Watch out for "€X/month for 1 year, then more": always check the post-promo price.

Commitment and cancellation.

Go for a no-commitment box. You can cancel or switch operator anytime, with no penalty — handy when you've just arrived or move often. "With commitment" offers (12 months) are rarely worth it.

To cancel, a simple letter or online form is enough; and if you switch to another box, the new operator can often handle cancelling the old one for you.

Installation.

• Fibre: often a technician appointment (a few days to a few weeks depending on demand).
• ADSL or fibre already installed: sometimes a simple self-installation (you plug in the box yourself).
• Plan to be reachable and present on the appointment day.

Subscribing as a newcomer.

You generally need French bank details (RIB) and ID. With no account open yet, start with mobile tethering (4G/5G) or a 4G/5G box while waiting for fibre — handy in the first weeks.

Get support.

Comparing boxes, testing eligibility, understanding the commitment, and tracking installation: the JARI community and Professional Services save you from the traps and save you time.

Going further.

Find the overview in Phone & internet in France, choosing a mobile plan, and getting connected on arrival in Staying connected when you arrive.

Useful links.

• Couverture fibre — ARCEP
• Comparateur box — Ariase