“All fiber” France is facing an unexpected upheaval. While the extinction of the copper network is looming for January 2025, with 162 municipalities affected, Elon Musk’s satellite solution is emerging as an increasingly credible alternative. And for good reason: one in ten French people still do not have access to optical fiber.
Faced with sometimes astronomical connection quotes (up to 120,000 euros for a simple seasonal restaurant) Starlink offers an attractive offer : an antenna for 350 euros (purchased on its official website, from Darty or Boulanger) coupled with a monthly subscription of 40 euros. For those who do not wish to invest the 350 euros, a rental package at 10 euros per month is also available, for a total of 50 euros per month.
As we mentioned in our long-term test, the performance is there: 200 to 300 Mb/s receiving, 15 to 30 Mb/s sending, and above all a latency of 33 milliseconds. Not yet at the fiber level but enough to allow streaming, online games and videoconferencing without a hitch. Perfect for those who had to stick to ADSL or VDSL offers from another era. Obviously, success was not long in coming: traffic tripled in France in 2024.
Satellite internet, new golden telecoms?
According to Les Echosspecialist installers are seeing their order books explode, with an average of 15 installations per month. The customer base extends well beyond single owners: city dwellers tired of waiting for fiber, owners of second homes, and even businesses keen to ensure their connectivity.
Faced with this success, traditional operators are trying to react. Orange launched its Nordnet offer, with similar speeds for 50 euros per month, but a much higher latency of 700 milliseconds. Bouygues Telecom Entreprises has chosen to join forces with Starlink to meet the needs of its professional customers.
The year 2025 promises to be even more eventful with the arrival of Amazon Kuiper. The American giant, which has just obtained the necessary authorizations, promises even more competitive prices. A prospect which worries the French telecoms sector, already burned by the 14 billion euros invested in fixed networks.
Arcep, the telecoms regulator, has collected more than 4,700 testimonials from users who favor Starlink in underserved areas. A validation which confirms that the satellite solution is no longer a simple alternative of last resort, but a major player in the French telecom landscape.
The telecoms sector worried
The case of Mayotte is particularly revealing. When terrestrial networks broke down, operators had to use Starlink kits to reestablish the connection, even if no one dares to admit it publicly.
For professionals in the sector, the issue goes far beyond the simple question of connectivity. This is a real questioning the economic model of French telecoms. The colossal investments made in the deployment of fiber are confronted with a more agile and often more economical solution. Rural areas, long considered unprofitable, suddenly become accessible without major infrastructure work.
This democratization of access to high-speed internet could also have repercussions on regional planning. Areas hitherto neglected because they were poorly connected are finding new appeal. Businesses can consider setting up far from major cities without fear of being cut off from the digital world.
- Starlink quickly conquers the French market with an offer of €40/month
- Performance (low latency, high throughput) and ease of installation contribute to its growing success
- The arrival of Amazon Kuiper in 2025 could trigger a price war, worrying traditional operators
