Editing Telecommunications in France

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'''Telecommunications in France''' are highly developed. France is served by an extensive system of automatic [[telephone exchange]]s connected by modern networks of [[fiber-optic]] cable, [[coaxial cable]], [[microwave radio relay]], and a domestic satellite system; cellular telephone service is widely available, expanding rapidly, and includes [[roaming]] service to foreign countries.

==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

==Radio==
'''Radio stations:''' AM 41, FM about 3,500 (this figure is an approximation and includes many repeaters), shortwave 2 (1998)

'''Radios:''' 55.3 million (1997)

==Television==
{{main|Television in France}}
'''Television stations:''' 584 (plus 9,676 repeaters) (1995)

'''Televisions:''' 34.8 million (1997)

==Internet==
{{main|Internet in France|Broadband Internet access in France}}

'''[[Country code top-level domain|Internet country code]]:''' .fr

'''[[Internet service provider]]s (ISPs):''' 62 (2000)

'''[[Host (network)|Internet host]]s:''' 15,182,001; 15.161&nbsp;million (metropolitan France) (2010)

'''Internet users:''' 45.262&nbsp;million; 44.625&nbsp;million (metropolitan France) (2009)

== Mobile networks ==
France currently has 4 mobile networks, [[Orange S.A.|Orange]], [[SFR]], [[Bouygues Telecom]] and [[Free Mobile|Free]] all of which are licensed for UMTS. All except Free are also licensed for GSM. In 2016 Q3, Orange had 28.966&nbsp;million mobile phone customers, SFR had 14.577&nbsp;million, Bouygues had 12.660&nbsp;million, Free Mobile had 12.385&nbsp;million, and the MVNOs had 7.281&nbsp;million.<ref>[http://www.frandroid.com/telecom/390963_parts-de-marche-des-operateurs-orange-loin-devant-bouygues-qui-depasse-free-mobile Parts de marché des opérateurs : Orange loin devant Bouygues qui dépasse Free Mobile] – FrAndroid, 18 November 2016</ref>

Before the launch of Free Mobile in January 2012, the number of physical mobile phone operators was very limited. For example, [[Telecommunications in Sweden|Sweden]] currently has 4 licensed operators with their own networks despite a smaller and sparser population than France's, making improved coverage less economically rewarding. However, France has a number of [[Mobile virtual network operator|MVNOs]] which increases competition.

However, [[Free Mobile]] obtained its licence in December 2009 and operates since January 2012.<ref name="ARCEP_20091217">{{Cite web | title= ARCEP accepts Free Mobile's application | url= http://www.arcep.fr/index.php?id=8571&L=1&tx_gsactualite_pi1%5Buid%5D=1234&cHash=b3b17bcaed | publisher = [[Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, des Postes et de la Distribution de la Presse|ARCEP]] | date=18 December 2009 | access-date=10 January 2010 }}</ref>

In France, the satellite telecommunications system TELECOM 1 (TC1) will provide high-speed, broadband transfer of digital data between different sections of subscribing companies. Conventional telecommunications links between continental France and its overseas departments will also be supplied.

==Overseas departments and regions==
* [[Telecommunications in French Guiana]]
* [[Telecommunications in French Polynesia]]
* [[Telecommunications in Guadeloupe]]
* [[Telecommunications in New Caledonia]]
* [[Telecommunications in Saint Barthélemy]]
* [[Telecommunications in Saint Martin (France)|Telecommunications in Saint Martin]]

==See also==
{{Portal|France|Telecommunication}}
* [[Media of France]]
* [[List of newspapers in France]]
* [[List of mobile network operators of Europe]]
* [[Autorité de Régulation des Communications Électroniques, des Postes et de la Distribution de la Presse]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
{{commons category|Telecommunications in France}}
* [http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/DF_communications.shtml Communications in France – at ''Discover France'' (English)]

{{French mobile phone companies}}
{{France topics}}
{{Telecommunications in Europe}}
{{Telecommunications}}

[[Category:Telecommunications in France| ]]