By Which Internet option is best for your second home in France?
To get WiFi in France for a second home, you have four options — none needs a landline — and the right one depends on how many months a year you actually spend there. Pick your situation:
At a glance, here is how the four options compare on price, speed and setup:
| Option | Typical price | Speed | Setup | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-contract fibre | From €23/mo | 1–8 Gb/s | Self-install kit, 1–2 weeks | 5+ months / remote work |
| 5G home box | €26–45/mo | Up to 1.5 Gb/s | Plug & play, minutes | 2–4 months / year |
| WiFi dongle / SIM | From €20/mo | Mobile 4G/5G | Instant, no French bank account | A few weeks / year |
| Satellite | €24–45/mo | 100–250 Mb/s | DIY dish, a few days | Rural / no fibre or 4G |
Don't over-read the speed figures: anything above 100 Mb/s streams 4K on several screens at once, so all four options are comfortable for normal holiday use.
Indicative operator-advertised prices and speeds, checked September 2026 — check the provider's page before subscribing.
How much will internet cost you per year?
The calculator below shows what a full year costs for each option, including the one-off joining and closing fees you pay if you subscribe and cancel around a single stay.
Slide to your typical stay — prices update instantly. Figures assume one continuous stay per year: if you subscribe and cancel fibre twice in the same year, count the €109 of fees twice.
Months/year at your second home
No-contract fibre
€23/mo · +€109 fees (setup+close)
WiFi dongle / SIM
€25/mo · No French bank account
5G home box
€35/mo · Plug & play
Satellite
Only when nothing else reaches you
At /yr, () costs less than ().
Fibre total includes €49 activation + €60 closing fee (Sosh rates, June 2026). Activation often waived in promo periods — check before subscribing. Satellite includes €299 kit amortised over 5 years.
One thing the slider cannot show: if you simply leave a no-contract fibre line running all twelve months, you pay around €276 a year (€23/month with Sosh or RED by SFR) and never pay a joining or closing fee again. For anyone visiting several times a year, or at short notice, that is often the calmest option — and the one our advisors most often recommend above five months of occupancy.
Can I pause or suspend my internet in France for a second home?
This is one of the most common questions from second home owners, and the honest answer is: no French operator offers a true "pause" on broadband contracts. But there are several practical workarounds that work just as well, or better.
| Option | How flexible is it? | Activation fee on return? |
|---|---|---|
| 5G box (no contract) | ✅ Cancel any time, re-subscribe when you return | None with most operators |
| WiFi dongle / prepaid SIM | ✅ Fully pay-as-you-go, no monthly bill when absent | None |
| No-contract fibre (RED, Sosh, B&You) | ⚠️ Cancel any time, but a fixed closing fee of ~€50–60 applies | Joining fee ~€40–50, often waived on current offers |
| 12-month fibre contract | ❌ Fixed termination fee + early termination fees if you cancel before the end of the contract | ~€40-50 re-subscription fees often waived on current offers |
Orange's Ligne Résidence Secondaire is a suspendable fixed phone line built for second homes: each suspension costs a one-off €5.99, you pay nothing while the line is dormant, and reactivation is free.
Important: you cannot subscribe to it from scratch. Orange sells it only as a plan change on an old-style copper telephone line that already exists at the property. If your second home has no copper line already, this option is closed to you — and France's copper network is being switched off, so it is a shrinking one even for those who qualify. Thousands of communes can no longer be sold copper services at all, and every copper line will be disconnected by 2030.
How to know whether you have one: look for an old telephone wall socket and ask whether a previous owner had a landline. Houses built in the last fifteen years, or where the line was cut off long ago, generally have none. Orange can confirm it from the address. If you don't have that line, the flexible options below — no-contract 5G box, WiFi dongle or no-contract fibre — are the ones to look at.
Best broadband plans in France for second homes (no contract)
If you have fibre access, it's now the fastest, most stable and most affordable option: no long-term contract, speeds between 1 and 8 Gb/s, and no landline needed (only ADSL uses the old copper network, being phased out by 2030 — see our guide on getting internet without a landline).
- Flexibility: activate or cancel whenever you like, no 12-month tie-in
- Affordable prices: many deals under €25/month with RED by SFR, Sosh or B&You
- Easy setup: most providers send a self-install kit if your home is already fibre-ready
In France, fibre is now available to 94.9% of premises — 42.8 million out of 45.1 million (ARCEP, Q1 2026) — and expanding quickly, including in many rural areas. Note that ARCEP counts premises, which includes second homes and business properties, not just main residences. Check your address with our tool below to see if your property is eligible.
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Double-check the number and postcode, or start typing to see suggestions. You can also call an adviser and we'll check it together.
* Promotional price for the first months. Regular price may apply thereafter.
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4G and 5G WiFi boxes for your second home in France
If fibre isn't available yet, a 4G or 5G WiFi box connects through the mobile network instead of a phone line — plug it in and you're online, no technician visit, no appointment. 5G boxes reach up to 1.5 Gb/s, close to fibre quality; all major operators offer one (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Free, RED by SFR).
- Fast speeds: up to 1.5 Gb/s, ideal for streaming and video calls
- Zero installation: no landline or technician needed, plug & play
- No commitment: cancel your Internet plan when you leave, restart when you return
- Available nationwide: works even where fibre isn't yet deployed
For best performance, place your 5G box near a window or balcony facing your nearest cell tower. Check coverage at your second home address using our eligibility checker before subscribing — signal quality varies significantly in rural areas.
No offers match the selected filters.
Pocket WiFi and portable WiFi dongles for a second home in France
A pocket WiFi device — also sold as a portable dongle, mobile hotspot or clé 4G — is the most cost-effective option for occasional visits. Insert a French SIM into the device and connect your other devices to its WiFi. No fixed line, no engineer visit, no charge when you're away — from €20/month or pay-as-you-go. Orange, SFR and Bouygues all offer one; check before choosing:
- Mobile coverage at your property: walls, rural location and distance to cell towers affect speed significantly. Check the operator's coverage map first.
- Your data usage: streaming and video calls drain data fast; dongles have smaller allowances than home broadband.
- Contract length: opt for a no-commitment plan so you're not billed during months you're not at your second home.
Prepaid SIM + pocket router
Occasional stays. Top up on arrival, no monthly bill when away.
Orange Airbox 4G
~€5/day or from €10/month (40 GB). Device sold in Orange stores.
SFR 4G Mobile WiFi
From ~€15/month, 50–100 GB, no long-term commitment.
Bouygues Clé 4G
~€15/month, good 4G coverage. Clé 4G plan typically 12-month commitment.
Representative selection — prices and data allowances vary. Device purchase (€50–€100) may be required separately.
How to get Internet by Satellite for a countryside house in France?
If your second home is tucked away in the countryside — the mountains, deep in rural Brittany or Provence — chances are fibre or 5G isn't available, and satellite is your best option. A dish on your roof or garden connects to Starlink, Nordnet or Bigblu at 100–250 Mb/s — enough for streaming and video calls — for a higher equipment cost (up to €300) and some latency.
- Available everywhere: no fibre or mobile coverage required
- High speeds: now comparable to 4G or entry-level fibre
- Flexible offers: most plans are no-contract
- Simple installation: kit delivered ready to set up yourself
You'll need a clear view of the sky for stable satellite connectivity. Trees, hills or overhanging roofs can block the signal. Starlink's app helps you find the ideal installation spot at your property before you order.
Starlink Residential
From €35/month, 100–200 Mb/s. No-contract, online support only.
Nordnet
Satellite and rural-fibre plans, from around €35/month. Selectra partner — call for the satellite option.
Representative selection — prices and speeds vary by address and are checked September 2026.
No offers match the selected filters.
Getting internet in France as a UK holiday homeowner
If you're a UK national with a second home in France, the process for getting connected is the same as for any other foreign national, but there are a few practical points worth knowing before you subscribe.
What do you need to subscribe to a French internet plan?
French address
Your second home's address is sufficient — no French residency required.
French bank account
Most operators require a French IBAN for monthly direct debit.
Valid ID
Passport or residence permit accepted by all operators.
Contact number
A French number is preferred but not always mandatory — ask our team.
Can I use my UK SIM card in France?
Since Brexit, UK SIM cards are no longer guaranteed free EU roaming. Many UK operators still include some EU roaming data, but allowances are often capped and speeds can be throttled for extended use. Check your provider's roaming policy before relying on your UK SIM for your entire stay. For stays of more than a week or two, a French plan will almost always work out cheaper than UK roaming.
Our advisors regularly help UK nationals set up internet contracts at their French properties. We handle the paperwork, deal with the operators in French, and find the right plan for how you use your home. Request a free callback or call us directly.
How to save money on Internet for your second home in France
If you only spend a few months per year at your French property, paying for a year-round Internet plan can feel wasteful. Here are the most effective ways to keep costs down without sacrificing connectivity.
The simplest approach is to choose a no-contract plan that you can cancel freely. RED by SFR, Sosh and B&You (Bouygues) all offer no-contract fibre from around €22–25/month. For even more flexibility, a prepaid SIM + WiFi dongle means you only pay when you're actually at the house.
Other ways to reduce the bill:
- Skip the TV and landline bundles: internet-only plans are significantly cheaper and most second home owners don't need 200 TV channels
- Switch providers when your promo rate ends: introductory offers typically last 12 months, after which prices rise. Your new operator usually handles the cancellation of your old plan. See all current offers on our internet in France guide or compare all providers.
- Cancel during low-use periods: with a no-contract plan, you can stop paying between visits
- Negotiate if you keep a line year-round: loyalty discounts only exist for continuous subscriptions, so calling once a year to renegotiate is worth it if you never cancel.
When you switch providers in France, the new operator typically handles the cancellation of your previous subscription and may even reimburse any early termination fees on your old plan. This makes switching cheaper and easier than most people expect.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the cheapest way to get internet in my French second home? Read more Close
No-contract fibre (from €23/month) for stays of several months a year; a prepaid SIM or WiFi dongle (from €20–25/month) for occasional short visits, since it carries no charge while you're away. See the cost calculator above for your exact case.
What is the best temporary internet option for a short stay in France? Read more Close
A pocket WiFi dongle or a 4G/5G box with no contract — both set up in minutes with no penalty on leaving. A dongle suits a few days to two weeks; a 5G box suits several weeks or more. See the options above for the full comparison.
Can I pause or suspend my internet contract in France for my second home? Read more Close
No — but a 5G box or WiFi dongle with no contract can be cancelled and restarted freely, and fibre can be cancelled for a fee (~€50–60). See the workarounds above for the full breakdown.
Do I need a French bank account or a French phone number to get internet in France? Read more Close
Bank account: usually yes (French IBAN for direct debit; prepaid dongles/SIMs can skip this). Phone number: not necessarily — EU nationals can subscribe to Orange through Selectra with a non-French EU number; UK/non-EU residents should ask our advisors.
How long does it take to get internet set up in a French second home? Read more Close
A 5G box or dongle works within minutes; fibre takes 1–2 weeks and often needs a technician visit — someone must be there to let them in, which is why many second home owners abroad prefer a box or dongle instead.
Is fibre broadband available in rural France? Read more Close
Yes, in most areas — fibre covers 94.9% of French premises (ARCEP, Q1 2026), though remote villages and mountain areas can still be limited. Check the eligibility widget above; if fibre isn't available, a 5G box or satellite are the best alternatives.
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