Editing Telecommunications in France (section)

==Fixed-line telephony==
The telephony system employs an extensive system of modern network elements such as digital [[telephone exchange]]s, [[mobile switching centre]]s, [[media gateway]]s and [[signalling gateway]]s at the core, interconnected by a wide variety of transmission systems using [[fibre-optics]] or [[Microwave transmission|Microwave radio relay]] networks. The [[access network]], which connects the subscriber to the core, is highly diversified with different copper-pair, optic-fibre and wireless technologies. The fixed-line telecommunications market is dominated by the former state-owned monopoly [[France Telecom]].

'''Telephones – main lines in use:''' 36.441 million; 35.5 million (metropolitan France) (2009)

'''Telephones – mobile cellular:''' 60.95 million; 59.543 million (metropolitan France) (2009)

===International connection===
Satellite [[ground station|earth station]]s – 2 [[Intelsat]] (with total of 5 antennas – 2 for Indian Ocean and 3 for Atlantic Ocean), NA [[Eutelsat]], 1 [[Inmarsat]] (Atlantic Ocean region); HF radiotelephone communications with more than 20 countries