Paying less for your internet subscription is easy: 8 tips

© Unsplash/Glenn Carstens-Peter

As fiber continues to reach more homes, many internet subscription offers are seeing their prices increase. The increase is most often a few euros, in exchange for new services.

But these services, in fact, are not necessarily essential to all subscribers. In reality, these increases often make it possible to slightly increase the profitability of a sector which is slowly recovering from a price war. which has greatly benefited customers.

Inflation is also responsible for a general increase in costs which results in a scarcity of good deals Internet subscription. And generally increasingly expensive internet packages.

Which does not mean that paying too much for your subscription is necessarily inevitable. You are free to switch to another internet package or switch to another access provider (ISP). Even with a commitment plan if your operator has just increased its prices.

On the one hand, ISPs (Orange, SFR, Free, Bouygues) have every right to increase the price of their internet access offers. They must simply respect two conditions:

• Prior information : it's this email, SMS or simple letter that you received, and which tells you that the price of your internet access will increase.
• Justification for the price increase : the operator must absolutely justify this decision. The reason may vary, but the subscription price increase is generally presented as allowing you to take advantage of new services.

You do not technically have the option of staying on the price of your current package. However, your operator's conditions are obligatory to include this case in the exceptional clauses of their general conditions of sale (CGV).

In this case, you have a period of four months, from the implementation of the new tariff, to terminate your contract free of charge (see the section “how to change ISP”).  Whether you are with or without commitment is of absolutely no importance… it’s the same thing.

From there you are totally free to take advantage of an offer ;#8217;cheaper internet subscription. Whether with the same operator, or with the competition. Given that this is a specific clause, you should still inquire with the customer service of your operator responsible for the price increase of the terms deviating from the simplified procedure.

Changing your ISP whether you are with Orange, Free, SFR or Bouygues is simpler than you think. And this, whether you have fiber or another method of access to the internet. For the case of fiber, a priori, everything is as simple as for ADSL subscriptions.

Changing your internet service provider only takes a few minutes, as you will see in the next part. The installation of a new socket or the removal and complete installation of a new cable is generally not necessary, the latter being generally shared.

Note also whatever the brand written on a fiber already installed, you can simply go to another ISP without needing to change this installation. The connection is simply made in an optical node (NRO), where it is possible to directly change the network fiber termination.

The process is highly simplified, and generally does not require much on your part, other than communicating a number to your new operator who takes care of all administrative procedures. You will then receive a new box and depending on your internet access offer one or more players, or other access arrangements for your television(s).

A return label will be sent to you to return all the old equipment from the old ISP. And this, even if you accidentally threw away or lost the original box. Just try to pack everything well enough to protect it from shocks.

Here's how to change operator:

• On your fiber optic socket there is a number allowing to facilitate procedures – write it down somewhere*.
• Also note the landline number of the old box and ask for its RIO number (by dialing 3179 from there ), which you will also transmit if you wish to keep the same fixed number*.
• Choose the best offer according to your needs from an alternative operator, in testing your eligibility on its site.
• Subscribe online, transmitting the information given above.

In many cases, it is possible to change internet service provider without any real interruption, as long as fiber is already the mode of your old subscription.

(* in certain accesses, outside fiber, other information may be requested from you – if this is your case, ask your new operator for the information to communicate to him).

• Compare the offers from different internet access providers (ISP): Prices and Services vary greatly from provider to provider. Use our online comparator to find the offer best suited to your needs and your budget

 Bbox Fit Fiber

 Download speed 400 Mb/s

 Unlimited fixed

 No TV

19.99 €

< p class="plan-text-small">For 12 months

instead of €32.99

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines in France and 110 destinations With commitment Bbox Miami SEE + 1

 Just Livebox Fiber Special Series

 Download speed 400 Mb/s

 Unlimited fixed

 No TV

19.99 €

< p class="plan-text-small">For 6 months

instead of €33.99< /p>Detail Unlimited calls from landlines to landlines With Livebox 5 commitment VIEW + 2

 Special Series Bbox

 Download speed 1 Gb/s

 Unlimited fixed

 180 TV channels included

29, €99

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines in France and to landlines in more than 110 countries No obligation Bbox must SEE MORE 3

 SFR Fiber Starter

 Download 1 Gb/s

 Unlimited fixed

 160 TV channels included

29, 99 €

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines in France With commitment Box 7 SEE + 4

 Freebox Pop

 Download rate 5 Gb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 230 TV channels included

€29.99

For 12 months

instead of €39.99

Detail Unlimited calls to Landlines in more than 110 destinations and Mobiles in France No commitment Freebox Pop SEE + 5

 Red Box Fiber

 Download speed 500 Mb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 No TV

25.99 €

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines in France and over 100 destinations No commitment RED Box Fiber THD Option(s): 1 month free + TV 100 channels: €2 SEE MORE 6

 La Boite Sosh

 Download rate 300 Mb/s

 Unlimited fixed

 72 TV channels included

€15.99

for 6 months

instead of €30.99

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines No commitment Livebox 5 SEE + 7

 5G box

 Download rate 1.1 Gb/s

 Calls not understood

 No TV

40.99 €

Detail 0 No obligation 5G box SEE + 8

 Red Box ADSL

  Download rate 500 Mb/s

& nbsp;Unlimited fixed

  35TV channels included

25.99 €

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines in France and more than 100 destinations No commitment RED Box Option (s): TV 100 channels: €2 SEE + 9

 SFR ADSL Starter

 Downstream 20 Mb/s

 Unlimited fixed

 160 TV channels included

29.99 €

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines in France With commitment Box 7 VIEW + 10

 Freebox Revolution Light

 Download speed 1 Gb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 228 TV channels included

€29.99

Detail Unlimited calls to Landlines in more than 110 destinations and Mobiles in France No commitment Freebox Revolution SEE + 11

 SFR Fiber Power

 Downstream 2 Gb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 200 TV channels included

36,99 €

Detail Unlimited calls to Landlines and Mobiles in France With Box 8 commitment Option(s): Netflix and Disney+ included for 6 months + 2 WiFi 6 repeaters SEE + 12

 SFR ADSL Power

 Download speed 20 Mb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 200 TV channels included

€36.99

Detail Unlimited calls to landlines in France With Box 8 commitment Option(s): Netflix and Disney+ included for 6 months + 1 WiFi repeater SEE + 13

< img decoding="async" src="https://www.presse-citron.net/app/plugins/keleops-shopbot/img/broadband/tag.png" height="12" width="12" alt=" " loading="lazy"> Box 4G+

 Download speed 300 Mb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 No TV

36.99€

Detail Unlimited calls to Landlines and Mobiles in France No commitment 4G+ Box SEE + 14

  SFR Fiber Premium

 Download 8 Gb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 200 TV channels included

€44.99

Detail Unlimited calls to Landlines and Mobiles in France Europe, China, United States and Canada With Box 8X commitment Option(s): Netflix and Disney+ included for 6 months + 2 WiFi 6 repeaters + Multi TV SEE + 15

 Freebox Ultra (WiFi 7)

 Download speed 8 Gb/s

 Unlimited fixed & mobiles

 280 TV channels included

€49.99

For 12 months

instead of €59.99

Detail Unlimited calls to Landlines in more than 110 destinations and Mobiles in France No commitment Freebox Ultra Option(s): included: Netflix (with advertising), Disney+ (with advertising), Amazon Prime, Canal+ live SEE + 16

• Take advantage of promotions and special offers: ISPs still regularly offer discounts on their subscriptions, in particular to attract new customers. Pay attention to these offers, particularly from low-cost operators (Free, Sosh, REDbySFR…) but also alternative ISPs which can allow you to make substantial savings.
• Opt for a no-commitment subscription: If you're not sure you want to stay with the same provider long-term, choose a no-commitment subscription. You will be able to change operator more easily if you find a better offer.
• Negotiate with your current supplier: If you are satisfied with your current provider, but find your subscription too expensive, do not hesitate to contact them to try to negotiate a reduction. You might be surprised what they're willing to offer to keep you as a customer.
• Choose a Mobile Bundle + internet:If you also need a mobile subscription, consider taking out a bundle (internet + mobile) with the same operator. This can allow you to benefit from preferential rates on both subscriptions. However, examine the conditions carefully.
• Close the range: do you really need all the options& ;nbsp;? You should know, among other things, that a wired Ethernet connection will not really deliver more than 1 Gb/s (unless a special socket is available and you use a special adapter). Entry-level fiber plans are much cheaper and can actually give you the same quality of service, especially from Free.
• < strong>Taking advantage of social assistance:If you are eligible, you can benefit from certain financial aid to reduce the cost of your internet subscription, such as Digital Cohesion aid, in the event of a low speed access situation to connect to satellite for example . Or aid reserved for beneficiaries of social minimums.
• Use a public Wi-Fi network: If you need an occasional internet connection, without paying for a hotspot or a big 5G package you can use the free public Wi-Fi networks available in many places (cafes, libraries, public spaces, etc. ).

Yes, it's not just the big four ISPs mentioned above. Alternative internet service providers can sometimes offer attractive internet rates, precisely by taking advantage of negotiated prices.

In some cases, locally, there are small alternative operators who can provide a free connection (even if this type of option is quite rare). In others, an alternative operator will be essential due to lack of fiber – which generally means satellite access.

Here is a list of the main alternative ISPs available in France in 2024*:

• Alsatis
• Coriolis
• K-Net
• Kiwi
• Nordnet
• NRJ Mobile
• Digitalization (satellite access)
• OVHcloud
• SkyDSL (satellite access)

< li>Starlink (satellite access)

(* non-exhaustive list)

Internet subscribers don't think about it enough: the simplification of procedures and the almost general presence of non-binding offers makes it very easy to change ISPs. It's so simple that it's actually your new operator who takes care of everything!

Of course, we advise you to carefully examine the best offers via our internet box comparator. And to stay on the lookout for good deals that may still appear here and there from certain suppliers. Remember to look closely at the offers from alternative operators which can be interesting in certain cases.

But also from ISPs known to be low cost, such as Free, REDbySFR or even Bouygueswhich still often offers very attractive prices. Free is often quite good on so-called Free Series subscriptions, while REDbySFR allows you to benefit from simple, clear, and interesting offers if you take out a mobile subscription and want to stay on the SFR network.

We therefore suggest that you look at everything carefully, including on our specialized pages in search of the best internet offer, then take the plunge as soon as it suits you!< /p>

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