To reduce the digital divide in its territory, the metropolis of Nantes will offer an Internet, telephone and television package at 2.90 euros per month. An excellent social initiative which should serve as an example.

To reduce the digital divide in its territory, the metropolis of Nantes will offer an Internet, telephone and television package at 2.90 euros per month. An excellent social initiative which should serve as an example.

While inflation is hitting French households hard, this is an original initiative that could – and should! – go to school. The Métropole de Nantes has in fact decided to offer a “social” digital package at… 2.90 euros per month! A floor price never seen in France which includes a 10 Mbit/s “high speed” Internet connection, telephony and a TNT TV package with 27 channels. Obviously, not everyone will be able to subscribe to this exceptional offer. It concerns 1,000 social housing units, indicates the City of Nantes in a press release, which wishes to reduce the digital divide in this way. To concoct this “triple play” offer, the metropolis joined forces with the social landlord Nantes Métropole Habitat (NMH) and the operator Qoontoo. The president of Nantes Métropole, Johanna Rolland, welcomed this decision: “In Nantes, we act on a daily basis to continue building a united and inclusive metropolis.”

Beyond a question of purchasing power, this progress is essential for the president of Nantes Métropole in a world where digital technology takes a preponderant place in the life of the city: “Digital technology is essential today in daily life, whether to find a job, communicate with loved ones, or even get information”, she recalls in her press release. In addition, Francky Trichet, vice-president of Nantes Métropole in charge of innovation and Digital, indicates that digital mediation players in the region will help households who are not comfortable with digital tools.

Internet package at €2.90: 1,000 homes connected in 2024

To take advantage of the offer at 2.90 euros per month, you will have to wait until the beginning of 2024, with the deployment of boxes not starting until next January. For his part, Fabrice Bellois, founding president of Qoontoo, believes that “this initiative is set to become exemplary”. He therefore intends for it to serve as a “springboard for future deployments throughout France”. The Banque des Territoires is closely monitoring this project. It granted funding of 750,000 euros to the operator.

In reality, this all-inclusive package is not a new thing. In 2022, a solidarity Internet offer had already been offered to 200 social housing units in the Port-Boyer and Orvault districts. Just like the 2.90 euro offer which will be offered to 1,000 homes, here too, the formula included a telephone line and a bouquet of TNT channels. However, no compensation was requested during this test phase by Nantes Métropole. The positive feedback from the beneficiary residents pushed the Metropolis to extend the testing phase for the 200 households concerned, she announced.