France - Broadband Market Insights, Statistics and Forecasts

Synopsis

France has the third largest broadband subscriber base in Europe. Growth in 2009 has been bolstered by demand for high bandwidth applications, considerable investment in fibre infrastructure, and a pro-competitive regulator which has promoted access to France Telecom’s network for new entrants through local loop unbundling. Recent legislation has secured similar access for fibre infrastructure. DSL dominates broadband access, while fibre deployment has become a substantial proposition, particularly in the Paris region. Although the cable footprint only reaches about 40% of the population, the dominant cableco Numéricable has upgraded its network to compete with DSL and has itself entered the DSL market through acquisitions.

This report assesses France’s fixed broadband markets in 2011, focussing on cable and DSL as well as developments with related technologies such as ADSL2+ and VDSL2. It reviews the strategies of the principal providers such as France Telecom, Iliad and SFR, considers the regulatory status of LLU, and provides forecasts for broadband penetration to 2020.

Key developments:

Broadband subscriber growth remains strong at 8%; DSL subscriber base broaches 21 million; cable sector accounts for 5% of total broadband; success of fibre co-investment deals among operators; fibre sector awaiting killer apps; regulator’s market data to end-2011; operator data to end-2011; market developments into 2012.

Companies covered in this report include:

Orange, Iliad, SFR, Numéricable, Bouygues Telecom.

Table of Contents

• 1. Synopsis
• 2. Overview
  • 2.1 Local Loop Unbundling (LLU)
  • 2.2 Wholesale access
  • 2.3 Bitstream access
  • 2.4 Regulatory issues
    • 2.4.1 Government support
    • 2.4.2 Regional support
    • 2.4.3 ‘Broadband for Everyone’
    • 2.4.4 Piracy legislation
  • 2.5 Leased line market
• 3. Broadband statistics
• 4. Cable modems
  • 4.1 Cable network agreements
  • 4.2 Cable consolidation
  • 4.3 Numéricable
• 5. Asymmetrical Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL)
  • 5.1 Providers
    • 5.1.1 Orange
    • 5.1.2 Free (Iliad)
    • 5.1.3 SFR
    • 5.1.4 Bouygues Telecom
  • 5.2 ADSL2+
  • 5.3 READSL2
  • 5.4 Very High Data Rate Digital Subscriber Line (VDSL)
  • 5.5 Symmetric Digital Subscriber Lines (SDSL)
• 6. Broadband Powerline (BPL)
• 7. Forecasts
  • 7.1 Forecasts – broadband subscribers – 2009 - 2012; 2020
    • 7.1.1 Scenario 1 – higher growth broadband subscriber growth
    • 7.1.2 Scenario 2 – lower broadband subscriber growth
    • 7.1.3 Notes on scenario forecasts
• 8. Related reports

• Table 1 – Internet users and penetration rate – 1995 - 2012
• Table 2 – Percentage of households with Internet access – 1997 - 2012
• Table 3 – Access lines, LLU and bitstream (regulator data) – 2007 - 2011
• Table 4 – Internet revenue by access type – 1998 - 2011
• Table 5 – Dial-up internet subscribers – 2005 - 2013
• Table 6 – Dial-up internet traffic – 2005 - 2013
• Table 7 – Broadband subscribers by type and penetration – 2000 - 2012
• Table 8 – Broadband penetration – 2000 - 2013
• Table 9 – Broadband penetration by technology – 2007 - 2012
• Table 10 – Cable modem subscribers – 2000 - 2012
• Table 11 – Numéricable subscribers by type – 2007 - 2010
• Table 12 – Numéricable Completel financial data – 2008 - 2009
• Table 13 – DSL subscribers – 2000 - 2012
• Table 14 – Orange DSL subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 15 – Free financial data and annual change – 2006 - 2011
• Table 16 – Free DSL subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 17 – Free proportion unbundled subscribers – 2005 - 2011
• Table 18 – SFR broadband subscribers – 2004 - 2010
• Table 19 – SFR revenue – 2005 - 2011
• Table 21 – Bouygues Telecom broadband subscribers – 2010- 2011
• Table 22 – Forecast broadband subscribers – higher market growth scenario – 2007 - 2012; 2020
• Table 23 – Forecast broadband penetration – higher market growth scenario – 2007 - 2012; 2020
• Table 24 – Forecast broadband subscribers – lower market growth scenario – 2007 - 2012; 2020
• Table 25 – Forecast broadband penetration – lower market growth scenario – 2007 - 2012; 2020

• Chart 1 – Internet users and penetration rate – 2000 – 2012
• Chart 2 – Broadband subscribers by type and penetration – 2000 – 2012