Internet box: the best offers in December 2021

Do you want to change your Internet service provider or box to have a faster connection, take advantage of more services or simply pay less for your subscription? Follow our guide to find the offer that meets your needs and your budget!

Unless you are exclusively using a mobile plan with enough data, the best way to have permanent Internet access is to take out a "fixed" subscription with an operator. The trouble is that the offer is wide and the choice is quite complicated.

First, because not everyone has access to all the existing technologies - fiber, ADSL, 4G, satellite or cable - the type of connection depending on the place of residence and the technical installations available. Then, because the Internet service providers - ISP in the jargon - offer several formulas, with different boxes associated with various services and options - TV packages in SD, HD or 4K, phone calls to landlines and / or mobile phones, Wi-Fi repeater, voice assistants, home automation functions, audio and / or video streaming services, etc. Finally, because the prices vary widely from one ISP and from one offer to another, especially since they are regularly the subject of promotions, as is the case at the start of the school year. 

This short guide has been designed to help you see things more clearly. You will find selections of offers corresponding to different criteria (ISP, speed, technology, price) but also answers to the most common questions to decipher the operators' proposals.

The cheapest fiber Internet offers

Optical fiber is arguably the most popular Internet access technology at the moment, as it offers the best speed, both "up" and "down". As part of the Our Country Very High Speed ​​Plan, the large ISPs continue to fiber the territory to offer this type of connection to as many households as possible. And they are increasing the number of promotional offers to attract new customers, by playing on the services offered, the equipment provided or the duration of the engagement. This is particularly the case for the start of the 2021 school year with floor prices at Bouygues and SFR (10 euros per month). Please note that certain low prices are only applied for a limited period, with a commitment, before the subscription is increased. And they sometimes correspond to "naked" offers, that is to say just with a modem, without TV box.

Fiber Internet offers with the best speed

Optical fiber offers a much higher speed than ADSL - or VDSL its "high performance" version - reaching in practice several hundred megabits per second (Mbit / s). Some ISPs today even exceed the symbolic threshold of gigabit per second by promising up to 2, 5 or even 8 Gbit / s. These speeds, achievable under ideal conditions, are however useful only in very specific cases, in particular when many users are connected simultaneously to services requiring a lot of bandwidth, whether for work or for entertainment with services of. video in 4K. In most cases, a speed of 1 Gbit / s is more than enough for a home, association or small business. 

The cheapest ADSL offers

Fiber is not available everywhere, so you often have to decide to opt for an ADSL connection - sometimes VDSL, its high performance version, when the option is available, and when the home is not too far from the NRA , the connection node to the operator's equipment. Despite a clear difference in quality compared to fiber, ISPs offer fairly similar rates on their conventional formulas, except during promotions. In this case, you can benefit from a box and ADSL access for around ten euros per month. But only for a few months!

Alternative fiber and ADSL Internet offers

If the four "big" operators - Orange, Free, SFR, Bouygues Telecom - and their "low cost" subsidiaries occupy the front of the scene, other less well-known suppliers offer interesting Internet access solutions, as well in fiber than in ADSL. Some, like OVH, are mainly aimed at professional customers, with offers without television designed for SMEs and very small businesses, but others, such as NordNet, are also aimed at the general public. Note that the rates are not the lowest, but that these ISPs also regularly run promotions.

Internet offers with 4G box

Some areas of the territory are not even eligible for ADSL - let's not talk about fiber! An effective solution to have an Internet connection is then to equip yourself with a 4G box and to use the mobile network. Several ISPs offer 4G packages, with a higher speed than ADSL. But this technique is not offered everywhere and, above all, the volume of usable data is capped, so there is no question of using this type of connection in unlimited mode, as is done with ADSL or fiber. The prices are similar to those of the classic boxes. 

Satellite Internet offers

When no classic solution - fiber, ADSL or even 4G - is available, all that's left is satellite to have a decent Internet connection. This market, which does not interest traditional ISPs, is occupied by specialized operators such as NordNe or Bigblu. Be careful, the flow rates remain quite low, the prices are relatively high, and you have to add the purchase and installation of a satellite dish to be able to use this technology. In addition, certain rules of good conduct require you not to use the connection at full speed all the time.    

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Which ISP to choose?

Unlike mobile telephony, you cannot choose just any Internet Service Provider (ISP) or any technology. In practice, it all depends on your location. Not just your department or town, but sometimes your own home! In fact, not all ISPs cover the entire territory, particularly in the regions and rural areas. In some villages, for example, you sometimes only have a choice between one or two operators. To find out which operator you can turn to, consult the Arcep website or take an eligibility test.

If you have the choice between several ISPs, study the different offers offered by each - technologies, boxes offered, accessories provided, phone calls, included or optional services, commitment period, installation and termination fees, service. assistance, and monthly rate, excluding any promotion. Take all these parameters into account, without focusing only on the call price. And don't forget to consult discussion forums and ask neighbors to find out if advertising promises are being kept in practice, especially for assistance in the event of a breakdown, not all operators having the same reputation in terms of customer satisfaction ... 

How to test your eligibility?

Before taking out an Internet subscription, do an eligibility test to find out which operator you can contact and what technology you can claim depending on where you plan to install your box. All ISPs offer it on their site, but you can also use Ariase's online tool, for example, to get a broader view and know both the operators and the offers available. In all cases, you must indicate a specific physical address or the number of a landline to obtain the information free of charge.     

Which Internet connection technology to choose?

As we have said, the connection technology that can be used by an Internet box depends essentially on the place where it must be installed, for technical reasons. Do not expect to have fiber in your home if your home is not connectable! Apart from certain privileged places where several technologies are available, the choice is generally limited.

If you are lucky enough to be eligible, opt for fiber, which offers by far the best speeds - up and down - for a generally very reasonable price. Otherwise, choose ADSL - especially if you can take advantage of VDSL, its high-speed variant, when your home is close to the NRA. And if none of these connections is offered, fall back on 4G - taking into account the usable data cap per month - or satellite - which also presents contrantes, but which has the advantage of working almost everywhere.  

What speed can I expect from an Internet box?

The speed offered by an Internet box obviously depends on the connection technology used. In fact, to be precise, it is better to speak of speeds, distinguishing between downlink and upstream speed, because an Internet connection works in two directions. The downward direction is that which corresponds to Internet traffic to the box, and therefore to the various devices connected to it, wired or Wi-Fi (computers, phones, tablets, televisions, voice assistants, connected objects, etc. .). This is the most important because it matches everything you receive and visit (web pages, emails, audio and video streams, downloads, etc.). The upstream direction corresponds to everything you send (requests, mails with their attachments, etc.). Statistically, we use more data going downhill than going up, except when we regularly send large files. This is why the downlink flow is generally much higher than the upstream flow. And it is often the one that is highlighted in the ads.

In addition, the speeds indicated by the ISPs are always maximum speeds. So don't be surprised to have "only" 800 Mbit / s when your operator announces a maximum of 1 Gbit / s for fiber. The differential is more sensitive in ADSL, when we promise a theoretical speed going "up to" 25 Mbit / s while the real speed barely reaches 10 Mbit / s… This technology is indeed very sensitive to distance: the more the the longer the phone line, the lower the speed.

In general, the classification of technologies by maximum throughput is as follows:

• Fiber: from 500 Mbit / s to 8 Gbit / s downstream.
• 4G: approximately 100 and 300 Mbit / s downstream.
• VSDL, high-speed variant of ADSL: up to 100 Mbit / s downstream, depending on the distance.
• Satellite: up to 50 Mbit / s downlink.
• ADSL: up to 25 Mbps downstream, depending on distance.      

Which Internet box to choose?

Depending on the ISP selected, the choice of a box is more or less wide, and variable depending on the period. For example, in September 2021, Free offers not less than four models (Freebox mini 4K, Freebox Revolution, Freebox Pop and Freebox Delta) in its catalog with some variations and options, while Sosh, the "low cost" subsidiary Orange, is satisfied with just one (Livebox 4) for its ADSL and fiber offers. 

In practice, the choice of a box is closely linked to that of a formula and therefore of a subscription. Formula which includes the technology used, but also the box, the associated functions and the services included. And on this bridge, it is necessary to make a complete inventory to decide because all the details count: number of boxes (modem with or without TV box), integrated interfaces (number and type of Ethernet and USB ports on the modem, HDMI sockets and audio for TV boxes, integrated or compatible storage medium (hard disk), Bluetooth module, Wi-Fi module (in particular the standard used, more or less fast), repeater or CPL modules supplied, integrated voice assistant, compatible accessories, audio-video formats supported (4K-UHD, HDR, MKV, etc.), network function, parental control, telephone calls included (landlines and mobiles, destinations), streaming services included or optional (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Canal, Disney +…), home automation functions, remote access possibilities, etc. Of course, the most recent boxes benefit from more advanced technologies than the old ones - Wi-Fi 6 has thus appeared on certain models -, but it is impossible to designate a model the "universal" and better than the others as the needs are varied. Thus, the 4K compatibility of a TV box is of little interest if your TV is only Full HD. Likewise, a TV box will be of no use to you if you never watch TV.      

How to change ISP?

Changing ISP is more complicated than changing mobile operator, especially since two steps must be taken in parallel: terminating your contract with your current provider and taking out a subscription with the new operator. In addition to the administrative aspects, which are often off-putting, it is necessary to take into account the interruption of service - and therefore access to the Internet - which can last several days ... 

The termination procedure is always specified in the general conditions of sale of your contract. Most often, you can find it on your ISP's website. 

You usually start by informing your current ISP informally, by email or phone, of your intention to terminate your contract. A call may give you the opportunity to review the procedure with customer service.

You must then send your ISP a termination letter by registered mail with acknowledgment of receipt. You can use an online service such as Résilier.com to compose your mail. Your access provider is then required to terminate your contract within ten days of receiving this letter. You must return the equipment made available to you - box and accessories - unless you have purchased part of it.

At the same time, you must take out a subscription with a new operator, providing it with all the necessary technical information (precise address, telephone line number) and the other documents requested. When all is well, you will receive your new equipment very quickly. When your new Internet access is activated - the delay is very variable - all you have to do is plug in your box to be connected to the Internet again.

Note that if you change Internet access technology on this occasion, for example by switching from ADSL to fiber, an intervention may be necessary in your home. In this case, an appointment with a technician must be made.

Changing the ISP can be simplified and accelerated thanks to the portability of your landline number, a free procedure similar to that existing for mobile telephony. To take advantage of it, you must call the number 3179 with your landline - if you have one connected to your Internet box - in order to retrieve your operator identity statement (RIO). You must then tell your future ISP that you want to use this method and provide them with your RIO. The procedures are then simplified - in principle, the new ISP takes care of everything - and the cut-off of Internet access is reduced - or even zero in some cases.

Do I have to pay a termination fee?

All ISPs charge a termination fee, typically around $ 50. But these costs can be reimbursed by the new operator with whom you take out a subscription, provided, of course, that you provide the corresponding supporting documents.

If you cancel a binding Internet offer before the deadline, you will also have to pay all or part of the subscription months remaining due. Likewise, if you do not return your old box with all its accessories (power supply, cables, remote control), or if certain elements are damaged, you will have to pay compensatory costs, which are sometimes very high. 

Note that the termination fees may be waived in a few very specific cases, for "legitimate reasons": moving, if the new accommodation is not eligible for the current offer, moving abroad, redundancy, over-indebtedness, detention and death. Here again, supporting documents (copy of lease or title deed, employer certificate, dismissal certificate, etc.) must be provided to benefit from this procedure.

Internet box: the best offers in December 2021

Summary Inexpensive fiber offers Better speed fiber offers Inexpensive ADSL offers Alternative operator offers 4G box offers Satellite Internet offers Which ISP to choose? How to test your eligibility? What...