How Starlink is shaking up the French telecoms market

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France, the “all-fiber” industry, is facing an unexpected upheaval. As the copper network is set to shut down in January 2025, with 162 municipalities affected, Elon Musk's satellite solution is emerging as an increasingly credible alternative. And for good reason: one in ten French people still does not have access to fiber optics.

Faced with sometimes astronomical connection quotes (up to 120,000 euros for a simple seasonal restaurant) Starlink is offering a tempting deal: an antenna for 350 euros (purchased on its official website, at Darty or Boulanger) coupled with a monthly subscription of 40 euros. For those who do not wish to invest the 350 euros, a rental plan for 10 euros per month is also available, for a total of 50 euros per month.

As we mentioned in our long-term test, the performance is there: 200 to 300 Mb/s in reception, 15 to 30 Mb/s in sending, and above all a latency of 33 milliseconds. Not yet at the level of fiber but enough to allow streaming, online games and videoconferences without a hitch. Perfect for those who had to limit themselves to ADSL or VDSL offers from another time. Inevitably, success was not long in coming: traffic tripled in France in 2024.

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Satellite internet, new el dorado of telecoms ?

According to Les Echos, specialist installers are seeing their order books explode, with an average of 15 installations per month. The customer base extends well beyond isolated homeowners: city dwellers tired of waiting for fiber, owners of second homes, and even companies keen to ensure their connectivity.

Faced with this success, traditional operators are trying to react. Orange has launched its Nordnet offer, with similar speeds for 50 euros per month, but a much higher latency of 700 milliseconds. Bouygues Telecom Entreprises has chosen to join forces with Starlink to meet the needs of its professional customers.

The year 2025 promises to be even more eventful with the arrival of Amazon Kuiper. The American giant, which has just obtained the necessary authorizations, promises even more competitive prices. A prospect that worries the French telecoms sector, already scalded by the 14 billion euros invested in fixed networks.

Arcep, the telecoms regulator, has collected more than 4,700 testimonials from users who are in favor of Starlink in poorly served areas. A validation that confirms that the satellite solution is no longer a simple alternative of last resort, but a major player in the French telecom landscape.

The telecom sector is worried

The case of Mayotte is particularly revealing. When the terrestrial networks went down, operators had to rely on Starlink kits to restore the connection, even if none of them dared to admit it publicly.

For professionals in the sector, the challenge goes far beyond the simple question of connectivity. It is a real reassessment of the French telecoms business model. The colossal investments made in the deployment of fiber are faced with a more agile and often more economical solution. Rural areas, long considered unprofitable, are suddenly becoming accessible without major infrastructure work.

This democratization of access to high-speed Internet could also have repercussions on regional planning. Areas that were previously neglected because they were poorly connected are finding a new appeal. Companies can consider locating away from major cities without fear of being cut off from the digital world.

• Starlink is rapidly conquering the French market with a €40/month offer
• The performance (low latency, high speeds) and ease of installation contribute to its growing success
• The arrival of Amazon Kuiper in 2025 could trigger a price war, worrying traditional operators

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