FULL LIST: Copper internet to end in 162 French communes from Friday

ADSL or ‘copper wire’ internet is set to disappear from 162 communes in France from January 31, 2024, as part of gradual steps towards removing the copper network completely.

The copper network, known as ADSL, is used to provide telephone, internet and television services. It is now set to be replaced nationwide by the newer, faster, and more reliable fibre optic network.

‘Fibre deployment’ to replace copper

Network owner and operator Orange is “piloting the network closure scheme” nationwide, explains government website service-public.fr. The gradual shutdown and replacement of copper wire is set to continue until 2030, “depending on the progress of fibre deployment”, the website states.

As of October 2024, more than 7.5 million people in France still used ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) or SDSL (Symmetric Subscriber Digital Subscriber Line) technology for their internet connection, show figures from communications authority Arcep. (The main difference between ASDL and SDSL is how much bandwidth they offer.)

“The [copper] network, which is more than 50 years old, no longer provides a high enough quality internet connection for everyday use,” the government website continues. Instead, the nationwide fibre optic rollout will gradually take over.

The change will apply to everyone in the communes affected, even if they do not have a subscription or service with the Orange network.

Once the switchover has taken place, communes will no longer have access to ADSL, but all will have access to fibre optic.

New subscriptions or sales using the copper network will stop by January 31, 2026.

Read also: Warning over hard sell of fibre internet as France’s copper network closes
Read more: Check if the end of copper internet connection is scheduled in your commune in France 

When will my commune switch? 

ADSL is gradually being removed in batches of communes.

So far, the calendar is:

• 162 communes on Friday, January 31 (see the full list below)

• 829 on January 27, 2026

• 2,145 on January 31, 2027

More closures will follow in January and November 2028, November 2029, and November 2030. 

To see your fibre optic eligibility you can enter your postal address on the interactive map on this dedicated Arcep web page, which shows the eligibility and speed of the fibre optic connections available in your area.

You can then find out about subscription options, and contact your preferred operator to get connected. The fibre optic network can offer internet, TV, and telephone connections, even if you only use one of the services.

Full list of communes to be affected by the switch on January 31, 2024

• Aisne: Annois, Barenton sur Serre, Beaumont en Beine, Connigis, Crezancy, Cugny, Cuirieux, Flavy le Martel, Fossoy, Froidmont Cohartille, Grandlup et Fay, Mezy Moulins, Monceau le Waast, Monthurel, La Neuville en Beine

• Ardennes: Pierrepont, St Eugene, Ballay, Briquenay, Givonne, Hauvine, Herbeuval, Illy, Landres et St Georges, Margny, Mazerny, Quatre Champs, St Clement a Arnes, St Etienne a Arnes, St Pierre a Arnes, Sapogne sur Marche, Sapogne et Feucheres, Singly, Thenorgues, Toges, Villers le Tilleul

• Charente-Maritime: Chermignac, Ecurat, Pessines, St Sulpice de Royan

• Cher: Nançay, Neuvy sur Barangeon, Saint Laurent, Vignoux sur Barangeon, Vouzeron

• Corrèze: Albignac, Bassignac le Haut, Beynat, Beyssac, Chamberet, Darazac, Lanteuil, St Pardoux Corbier, Soudaine Lavinadiere, Troche

• Côtes-d'Armor: Glomel

• Finistère: Bohars

• Haute-Garonne: Albiac, La Salvetat Lauragais, Venerque

• Loire: Ambierle, Arcon, Les Noes, St Bonnet des Quarts, St Rirand

• Mayenne: Livre La Touche

• Morbihan: Camoel, Ferel, Le Hezo, Ile aux Moines, Ile d'Arz, La Trinité Surzur.

• Nord: Amfroipret, Audignies, Bavay, Beaumont en Cambresis, Beauvois en Cambresis, Bellignies, Bermeries, Bertry, Bethencourt, Bettrechies, Bevillers, Bousies, Busigny, Caudry, Caullery, Clary, Croix Caluyau, Englefontaine, Estrun, La Flamengrie, Fontaine au Bois, Fontaine au Pire, Forest en Cambresis, Gommegnies, Gussignies, Hargnies, Haucourt en Cambresis, Hecq, Hon Hergies, Honnechy, Hordain, Houdain lez Bavay, Inchy, Lieu St Amand, Ligny en Cambresis, La Longueville, Louvignies Quesnoy, Maretz, Marquette en Ostravant, Mastaing, Maurois, Mecquignies, Montigny en Cambresis, Neuville en Avesnois, Neuville sur Escaut, Obies, Paillencourt, Poix du Nord, Preux au Bois, Preux au Sart, Raucourt au Bois, Reumont, Robersart, St Waast, Salesches, Taisnières sur Hon, Troisvilles, Vendegies au Bois, Viesly, Wargnies le Petit, Wasnes au Bac, Wavrechain sous Faulx

• Pas-de-Calais: Angres

• Seine-et-Marne: Boissettes, Boissise la Bertrand, Boissise le Roi, Dammarie les Lys, Le Mee sur Seine, La Rochette, Vaux le Penil

• Yvelines: Guyancourt, Magny les Hameaux, Le Mesnil St Denis

• Vaucluse: Buisson, Grillon, Rasteau, Richerenches, Roaix, St Roman de Malegarde, Séguret, Vaison la Romaine, Valréas, Villedieu, Visan

• Vendée: Aizenay, Le Poiré sur Vie