€242m aid to end France’s web blackspots
Ten departments are being targeted with €242million aid to end web blackspots and give 4.7million homes high-speed internet.
Funds go to Côte d’Or, Dordogne, Gard, Hérault, Mayenne, Nièvre, Orne, Somme, Tarn-et-Garonne and Yonne, where internet speeds are poor.
Totals vary from €3million in Gard to almost €45million in Dordogne.
Dominique Girard, mayor of Flammerans, Côte d’Or, said it had lost two businesses because of slow web speeds. “Now we have fibre-optic cabling to the village centre and use the old copper network to homes. Soon fibre will go to every house.
“Previously, I had 0.5MB and it was too slow for big files, now I have 80MB and it’s so fast.
“Farmers will be delighted as big EU application files would take a day and a half to send but will now go in an hour.”
In all, 21.6million French homes can get fibre-optic internet. The new money only gives fibre if it is best, as 4G or satellite may be better in rural areas.
The aim is 100% coverage of up to 8mbps (or 1MB) next year and 30mbps (3.75MB) by 2022.
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Mobile firms are being forced to speed up 4G upgrades or face tougher penalties.
Ministers say 75% of the 9,976 no-coverage zones blanches should have 4G in 2020.
