Phone costs

[dcat]

I pay an enourmous amount of money each month for a phone line and broadband in Spain. I was wondering what I might expect if and when I move to France. My basic phone and internet service is 74 euros per month, not counting any additional charges such as international calls (which I don't do much of anyway) and calling mobiles (which is hard to avoid, but I do avoid it as much as I can). Nevertheless, my typical monthly bill totals 120-140 euros. They repeatedly tell us, on the news, that Spain has the most expensive phone and internet service charges, but it doesn't seem that there will ever be any help for the poor consumer.

Can someone tell me what the basic phone charges are in France and what their typical monthly bill comes out to?
Thanks,
Dvora

[Bevdeforges]

Basic fixed line runs 15€ a month from France Telecom. Mobile service starts at about 20€ a month for 1 hour of calling, more with fancy services (data, etc.) - though there is always the option of buying time rather than a subscription. Internet service (ADSL) is usually available for anywhere from 20 to 35 or 40€ a month, depending on speed, volume and whether you want tv and VOIP (telephone) with that.
Cheers,
Bev

[giantpanda]

Hi!

At present most French internet providers offer ADSL and free phone costs * to fixed phones under Euro 30 a month.

As regards phone costs, you have to read exactly the offers, to choose one that will include foreign phone costs to the countries, which tou are interested in.


Acccording to your French location, the important question will be if you have to maintain a Orange line ( Ex-France Telecom ) to get your provider or not. That adds some Euro 15 to the bill.

See here a comparison ( without special offers )

ADSL-Facile.com - Comparatifs, Test d'éligibilité, Tout savoir sur l'adsl!

or here a guide for the diffirent local posissiblities.

Comparatif ADSL - Comparaison des offres ADSL en France

For calls to mobiles, see the extra charges. But here too there is a development in progress, with possible flat rates coming.

Yours,

gianpanda

If you have no local tel. number, then you can always enter the number of the Mairie or local immobilier, if you are not looking for an isolated house.

[dcat]

Thanks, that was pretty much the information I was looking for. In Spain a basic fixed phone line with broadband costs around 70 euros a month and in France it is 30 euros (from what you've written). We hear repeatedly on the news here that we have the most expensive phone and internet service in Europe, actually in the industrialized world, and unfortunately the service isn't even that good. What a great reason to move to France!

Dvora

Originally Posted by giantpanda

Hi!

At present most French internet providers offer ADSL and free phone costs * to fixed phones under Euro 30 a month.

As regards phone costs, you have to read exactly the offers, to choose one that will include foreign phone costs to the countries, which tou are interested in.


Acccording to your French location, the important question will be if you have to maintain a Orange line ( Ex-France Telecom ) to get your provider or not. That adds some Euro 15 to the bill.

See here a comparison ( without special offers )

ADSL-Facile.com - Comparatifs, Test d'éligibilité, Tout savoir sur l'adsl!

or here a guide for the diffirent local posissiblities.

Comparatif ADSL - Comparaison des offres ADSL en France

For calls to mobiles, see the extra charges. But here too there is a development in progress, with possible flat rates coming.

Yours,

gianpanda

If you have no local tel. number, then you can always enter the number of the Mairie or local immobilier, if you are not looking for an isolated house.