Best broadband options while in France
I am about to start house hunting in France. I am looking to buy a second home and intend to rent a property for several months while I research the area. What are my best broadband options so I can search for properties on line when there?
Assuming that your rental property has no broadband, you have two options. The first is to buy a wifi mobile hotspot. This will work anywhere there is a suitable mobile signal, so you will not be restricted to using it at the property you rent.
Typical offers are €69.99 for the hotspot, including 10 hours of web browsing, 400 emails and four hours of video streaming.
They connect to the 3G network and you can attach up to nine different devices.
Some can be topped up via an English-language website and all will accept any internationally recognised bank or debit card. With no landline connection it can be useful when you first move into a new property. The second, if there is a line already existing where you are renting, is to consider a short-term broadband service that includes free landline calls, such as those offered by Sosh (Orange) or RED (SFR).
These represent good value. The costs are €19.99 per month for Sosh and €15 a month for RED, both including modem rental. Each time you start a new period of use, you will be given a new phone number, and if you let the service run for a long time, the costs rise dramatically. As you are buying a holiday home, either could be a useful alternative to using your mobile data.
If you intend to stay for longer periods, it may be cheaper to set up something more permanent.
UKTelecom is the only company offering a broadband service that can be suspended for up to four months in each 12-month period.
Question answered by Bob Elliott from the telephone and broadband provider, UK Telecom. See uktelecom.net for more information on their services in France.If you have a query on this topic send it to news@connexionfrance.com
