Telephone & Mobile Providers in France

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Telephone & Mobile Providers in France

Orange (formerly France Telecom) is the dominant national supplier of landline telephone lines, cellular telephone, Internet packages and TV.

English-speaking Service

Orange has an English-speaking customer service helpline open Monday to Friday 09:00-17:00:

• Tel (from France):  09 69 36 39 00
• Tel (from abroad): 0033 969 36 39 00
  • Press 1 for Technical support
  • Press 2 for Commercial support including registration, invoices, billing queries, line activation, changing personal details and moving home queries
• For comprehensive information in English: Click here

Getting Connected: Telephone

To have a domestic landline telephone installed, connected or reconnected, apply at the local Orange office or Freecall: 1014.

• To find a local agency: Click here

When requesting a line installation or connection the following are required:

• Proof of identification
• Proof of address: a recent electricity bill, a tax bill or a rental contract

Orange has a separate business line division, the Orange Pro. A business registration number (SIREN) is required when applying to prove that the business is legally registered. Freecall: 1016.

If a property has a line already installed, the account can be transferred to the name of the new occupant and re-connection can be arranged.

Bills (factures) include VAT (TVA) at 19.6%, and are sent every two months. They can be paid by direct debit, by cheque or TIP (Titre Interbancaire de Paiement) or online.

Registration for online payments requires the Orange client number (printed at the top of an invoice) and a RIB.

• For an interactive map to find the address and contact details of a local Orange agency: Click here

Second Home in France

A landline telephone service in a second property or holiday home (résidence secondaire) can be made temporarily dormant in times of absence.

Temporary line suspension

In order to qualify for the second home line service (service ligne résidence secondaire) it is essential to:

1. Have a permanent subscription (Abonnement Principal)
2. Provide evidence that it is a second home (this can be done with an insurance contract or tax document indicating the main address, or through proof of residence abroad)

A request is made for temporary suspension of the line (this does not affect Internet service - payment for that will continue, although it won't be usable while the line is suspended). There will be no charge for subscription fees although, other service rental charges may apply. The service can be suspended for one to 12 months. Calls can be forwarded overseas.

• To deactivate or reactivate the service, Tel: 3000
• To learn more about reactivation and deactivation: Click here
• Further information: Click here (in French)
• For information on call forwarding: Click here (in French)

Handy Numbers

A number of telecom companies provide landline services. These are often part of an Internet package and may include telephone, Internet and digital television. Prices vary from one company to another and depend on the chosen package. In most cases it is possible to subscribe online, by telephone or at one of the customer services centres or shops.

Telephone Directories

Every year the Yellow Pages (Pages Jaunes) directory of businesses and the White Pages (Pages Blanches) directory of private numbers are issued by the post office. In most regions these phone books are delivered to the door. The directories are organised alphabetically by town/village name. Find the appropriate town first, and then look for the name or service in that town.

Online directories

• Use the Yellow Pages to find businesses and services: Pages Jaunes
• To find private numbers or addresses use the Pages Blanches

Opt-out preferences (sales and marketing calls)

Orange provides an opt-out register where a telephone subscriber can register their preference to not receive unsolicited telesales or marketing calls. This is the Liste Orange.

• For information on Liste Orange: Click here (in French)
• To subscribe (souscrire) to the free service complete the formulaire de souscription: Click here and enter the relevant telephone number as well as an email address and contact number

Note: This service is only available to France Telecom/Orange subscribers. It is not available to (for example) subscribers of Neuf or Free.

Being unlisted or ex-directory

There are two ex-directory/unlisted options which can be subscribed to. Both are free services and registration can be made online by entering the relevant number, along with an email address and contact telephone number.

1. The Liste Rouge removes all details of a subscriber's telephone number from the directories issued by Orange, both printed and online. Additionally the telephone number will not be disclosed by telephone number services.
   • For more information on Liste Rouge: Click here (in French)
2. The Liste Orange removes details of the telephone number from Orange directories.
   • For more information: Click here (in French)

Mobile Cellular Telephones

France operates on a GSM network. Mobile telephones that are not GSM compatible may not work in France.

There are numerous types of mobile telephone subscription. Subscriptions are taken out for a minimum duration, usually 12 or 24 months, depending on the offer. Subscriptions are automatically extended on expiry. Bills are paid monthly by direct debit.

There are also prepaid offers available, or pay as you go, which do not require a subscription. After buying the prepaid card, calls can be made immediately. Prepaid cards are sold in many shops, supermarkets,  tabacs and news stands (presse).

The main mobile telephone providers are

• Bouygues Telecom
• Orange
• SFR
• Free

There are many other providers offering subscriptions and pre-paid packages. A useful resource for comparing mobile phone subscriptions is Edcom.