Used for fixed telephony and ADSL Internet access, the copper network will soon disappear in favor of optical fiber. The Government has set up a special website to support users in this transition.
A page will soon be turned in the world of fixed telecommunications in France. Deployed massively in the 1970s, the “copper network” – or copper network, the set of telephone cables which irrigate cities and countryside – allowed millions of users to benefit from a reliable fixed telephone network . And even though it was not designed for that, it was also diverted in the early 2000s to carry digital signals and thus provide access to high-speed Internet in ADSL and VDSL.
But after some fifty years of good and loyal service, this venerable network will soon disappear. Orange, which owns and manages it as the historic operator after France Telecom and the PTT, has in fact announced a closure plan spanning seven years, from 2023 to 2030. Obviously, this transition will not be without consequences in many homes, particularly those who still use traditional analog telephony, without Internet. To support people affected by this development towards the transition to very high speed, the Government has opened a very practical website: Very high speed for all.
Very high speed: the end of the classic telephone
If you still use a “T” telephone jack or alarms that pass over the copper network, your equipment will gradually be cut off in the years, or even months to come. As a reminder, the transition will be gradual and will not impact all municipalities at the same time. Don’t worry, everything has been planned to make this change as clear and smooth as possible. “As part of the telecoms infrastructure modernization project, the Government’s priority is to ensure the smooth migration of subscribers by guaranteeing everyone access to very high speed, mainly thanks to optical fiber”explained the Ministry of the Economy in a press release dated November 7, 2023.
In addition to the fact that operators will have to inform you by mail or e-mail if you are affected by the network closure, the Government has set up the site Very high speed for all, dedicated to this transition. Thanks to this platform, you will be able to learn about the steps to take if you are affected by the closure of the network. Intended for ordinary citizens as well as businesses and communities, this site is all the more practical because it allows you to know when the cutoff will take place and to know the replacement solutions available at a given address. Above all, it answers a number of common and practical topics with well-documented FAQs. Furthermore, the platform can also clarify your doubts since you can ask questions there, even as an individual. The perfect opportunity to find out if your home is eligible for optical fiber, if work is necessary for your home to be connected, or if your situation requires you to change telephone operator or Internet service provider .