Online map follows fibre roll-out in France

Internet speeds in France are a common complaint as people wait impatiently to be connected to the fibre-optic network.

Currently, about 22million people can, in theory, connect to very high speed internet.

The government has pledged that the entire country will have access to broadband by the end of this year - followed by access to very high speed internet within two years.

Where it is available, fibre is proving popular, with more than 700,000 new subscriptions in the last quarter alone. It is possible to follow the roll-out of the network on an interactive map maintained by telecoms watchdog ARCEP.

The map – at cartefibre.arcep.fr – offers a range of information, from the number of properties in any given area able to connect to the fibre-optic network to where the next phase of the expansion is planned.

It even works on a house-by-house level, indicating which properties could be connected to the fibre network, and which ones are still waiting.