The number of internet service suppliers in the French market has reduced in recent years, but competition amongst those that remain is fierce, providing consumers with the opportunity to benefit from attractive tariffs.

The main telecoms provider Orange (formerly France Télécom) continues to dominate the market for the supply of internet services in France, particularly in rural areas.

Nevertheless, a determined group of other ISPs have eaten into substantial parts of their market, notably in urban areas, where the best offers are to be found.

Here, internet speeds are higher and there are many areas where the local telephone loop has been 'unbundled' enabling the ISPs to cease reliance on the main telecoms provider to route their services.

Naturally enough, most of the offers from the ISPs are also designed primarily for the French community, so 'triple play' offers for internet, telephone and television are widely marketed.

This does mean that many of these offers are not particularly suited to the Anglophone expatriate community, most of whom live in rural areas where broadband speeds are lower, and who may have no wish to watch French television.

So the following is a whistle-stop tour of the best basic offers (not all the offers) currently on the market in those areas that have been unbundled from Orange (zones dégroupés), as well as information for areas where Orange still controls the key to the door (zones non dégroupées).

Not all of the suppliers listed will operate in all areas, except Orange, the main provider, although some rural areas continue to remain without a broadband service.

Zones Dégroupés

In order to benefit from the offers in these areas you need to check your internet speed, so that the quality of telephone calls over the internet is stable and clear.

As many rural broadband connections are only capable of a maximum of 2Mbps do not assume you will be able to obtain the maximum speeds that are advertised.

Although most households are within an area where at least 2Mbps is available, just how much you will actually be able to obtain in your own home will depend on the distance from the local exchange.

The type of connection you use (Wi-Fi, USB, or Ethernet) will also influence the speed of your connection.

If you have an existing line you can test the speed of your existing line at Speedtest.

i. SFR 'Internet Seul'

One of the cheapest internet offers is from SFR, with an 'Internet Seul' service, for €15.90 per month. You will also pay €3 per month for a router/modem, unless you have one of your own or unless you have no need for WiFi.

However, the deal is internet only so you are obliged to subscribe to a fixed line telephone with Orange. This costs an additional €16 per month, plus calls. If you make calls on a regular basis on your fixed line, this could make the offer rather expensive.

ii. B&You 'Box Internet'

There is a offer from B&You with their 'Box Internet' offer for €15.99 per month. This offer includes unlimited VoIP telephone calls to fixed lines and mobiles in France, and to fixed lines for a large number of international destinations.

There is a connection charge of €15.99, and if you terminate to go to another supplier you will be charged €49. You will also need to buy the modem, which costs €35.

iii. Alice 'Initial'

This is the entry level offer from Free, the ISP that broke the mould with low-cost internet offers several years ago.

The offer is €19.98, for internet, phone (including international) and television, with a minimum contract period of 12 months. Mobile calls not included.

There is a connection charge of €40 and a termination charge of €49.

iv. Numerical 'i Start'

Numerical have an offer for internet and VoIP for all national (fixed and mobile) calls and many international destinations for fixed line calls for a promotional price of €19.99 per month for a year. After a year it rises to €27.90 per month.

There is a minimum contract period of 12 months or a termination charge of €70.

Zones non Dégroupées

In those areas where Orange still controls the exchange (zones non dégroupées), and other operators are required to use their lines, there is really little choice available, although those who do not have a decent ADSL connection may wish to consider the satellite options.

i. Orange Découverte

The Orange ‘Découverte’ offer is a broadband connection up to 8Mbps for a monthly charge of €21.00.

This is currently around €14 lower than their main offer of €33.90 per month, which includes other services such as VoIP and television.

If you want Wi-Fi, you will also pay €3 per month for a 'Livebox' router, unless you have one of your own.

The deal is internet only so you are obliged to subscribe to a fixed line telephone with Orange. This costs an additional €16 per month, plus calls.

However, the offer is a potentially attractive one for those users who prefer the greater security and quality of a fixed telephone line, particularly where broadband speeds are low.

One way of reducing call charges is to also sign up with a secondary telecoms ('switch') provider to route your calls. As calls to fixed lines in the UK (plus others) and within France can often be obtained free of charge through a secondary provider, you get the double advantage of a cheap broadband line, with almost next to nothing to pay for telephone calls on the fixed line to other fixed line numbers!

The other great advantage of the offer is that you do not need to subscribe for a minimum period. The subscription is ‘sans engagement’.

ii. Satellite

There are a substantial number of satellite options available, and in recent years the quality of the offers has improved substantially, both in the speeds available and the charges.

The main suppliers are Sat2Way, WiBox, Tooway, Nordet and Alsatis, all of whom who have basic offers that start at around €29.99.

To this basic price you can add a fixed monthly sum for telephone calls starting at around €7 per month, and rising if you wish to include all mobile calls.

If you take the telephone option this then removes the necessity to take out a fixed telephone line subscription.

With most of the offers the satellite and kit will cost around €350, but it is generally possible to obtain free supply and pay a higher monthly charge.

Most of the suppliers required that you take out a contract for a minimum of 12 months, and sometimes longer.

Watch out also for engagement and termination charges, although these do not apply in all cases.

All the offers from these suppliers can be easily found on the internet.