France fiber optic deployment faces significant slowdown

The deployment of fiber optic technology in France is experiencing a significant slowdown. According to the association Avicca, the second quarter of 2026 saw the lowest number of new connectable premises since 2014.

In medium-sized municipalities, operators Orange and SFR committed to deploying fiber at their own expense under the AMII framework. However, as of June 30, work had not yet begun for 28% of addresses in these areas. Avicca has criticized the government for renegotiating commitments with Orange and noted a lack of sanctions from the regulator, Arcep, despite missed deadlines.

In rural areas, Public Initiative Networks (RIP) are making progress, accounting for nearly two-thirds of deployments when excluding Free's re-entered market connections. While some departments like Vendée and Pyrénées-Atlantiques have achieved over 99% coverage, the overall project for rural networks is not expected to conclude before late 2027. Major cities may face delays of up to four years for full coverage.