After almost 20 years living in France and 8 of those here in the PO, I’ve been able to watch and understand the roll out of Internet access. From dial-up modems, ADSL, VDSL, 3G/4G/5G mobile, and now Fibre Optic, access to the Internet has definitely improved. However, as speeds have increased so has demand both in terms of numbers of users and also the capacity needed for gaming, streaming TV and Movies, and downloads. Our lifestyles generally require an increasing number of “Gigs”!!
For a large number of folk Fibre hasn’t arrived in their commune and rather slow ADSL remains the only obvious option but 4G/5G boxes are available. These boxes are available from Orange, SFR, Bouygues etc.. A box like this connects to the mobile network and can provide much faster connection speeds. Where a Livebox, for example, might only deliver speeds around 2 or 3 Mb/sec, the Orange 4/5G box may deliver 50 to 80 Mb/sec or more. I have seen cases where speeds in excess of 150Mb/sec are attained. There are data limits with most providers with the exception of Bouygues who provide a service with unlimited data (perfect if you want to stream TV or Movies). Find out more here https://www.bouyguestelecom.fr/offres-internet/5g-box
But lets look at another option that few people have heard of. Elon Musk doesn’t only make EVs, but also amongst other business interests owns a company called Space X. A subsidiary of this company is Starlink. Space X has been launching low orbit satellites for some time and is in the process of creating a worldwide network that delivers Internet access. In a nutshell, a small (50cm x 34cm) automatic satellite seeking dish constantly monitors the sky to access these orbiting satellites, ensuring the strongest signal. The number of satellites is increasing to ensure proper coverage. Read more here https://www.starlink.com
A client has recently installed the service and has gone from a very iffy 3 or 4 Mb/sec to 176Mb/sec! But the most important thing is the stability of the connection and it’s pretty constant which means really good TV without buffering or black screens.
The price point for the Starlink service is on par with most ISPs and the kit is on special offer until the end of August. Installation is straightforward and all necessary components are in the kit. This may be the answer you are looking for so why not follow the link and find out more https://www.starlink.com
If you need any help understanding their website please get in touch or if we can help with any other aspect of IT, online entertainment, or WiFi and Networking, we’re here to help.
Siret 50044353600023
Please confirm that PO Life and its advertisers are not endorsing or encouraging the use of Starlink. Apart from the far right wing politics of its owner, Starlink is a very controversial project which has been polluting and obscuring the night sky for several years. Please stay away from Musk and his products.,
Jon Sternberg, Banyuls Sur Mer and Northern California.