| FRANCE | Networked World | ||
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| Country Overview | Network Access | Network Learning | Network Society | Network Economy | Network Policy | Offshore Opportunity | Analysis of Readiness |
Network AccessInformation Infrastructure
Internet Availability
Internet Affordability
Network Speed and Quality
Hardware and Software
Service and Support
Transport Infrastructure
Distribution Channels
France has a strong and growing technology industry. The country's assets are varied and include its transport and telecommunications sectors. France is home to the fifth-largest telecommunications industry in the world. The phone networks have been revamped to a fully digital infrastructure to prepare for the emergence of new high-speed technologies. It consists of 34 million telephone lines, of which France Telecom (FT) has 49.5% of the market, Cegetel-SFR 37.5% and Bouygues Telecom 13%. Since the liberalization of telecommunication services in 1998 more local operators have emerged; 130 operators are licensed to operate fixed, wire line networks. The French government is actively involved in improving the infrastructure and is widely concerned with making it available to the entire territory. Among other initiatives, loans are disbursed to local governments for investments in fiber optics in underserved areas. The telecommunications infrastructure not only effectively services the country, but also connects it to the rest of Europe and even the Americas. The network uses wavelength division multiplexing and supports traffic of 40Gps, equivalent to 300,000 phone calls. These characteristics make it one of the largest-capacity systems currently in service, able to deliver superior quality transmission for voice, data and video.
Computer and Internet Usage
Please see Network Society
Public Access
In France, the term "public services" designates all the activities of general interest that are carried out by the authorities, including the access to infrastructure and resources as well as public internet access. Expecting the advent of the information era, the government's policy is to reduce inequality of access to multimedia resources so that everyone can join the information society.
To lower the costs to consumers, the government required France Telecom to offer ISPs the lowest rates in Europe for flat-rate call origination to facilitate narrowband access. This measure also helps assure FT offers leased lines at cost-based rates. The market for business consumers is highly advanced and offers many options. For individuals AOL France and FT Internet service Wanadoo established flat fees for unlimited Internet access since 1997. There are tiered pricing options for infrequent and novice users. Access to business is facilitated by lower prices and prompt access to leased lines.
The quality of the telecommunications infrastructures, the liberalization of the market and the creation of the National Telecommunications Research Network (RNRT) have given France a strong position in the quality and speed of its network. To address the broadband bottleneck, leased lines are increasing and DSL and cable modems are becoming widespread. Internet backbone routers have been improved to the benefit of corporate, government and individual users. Thirty nine % of the French surfers have cable or a DSL access from their office and 14 % from their house.
France's software market is one of the most dynamic sectors in the French economy and, with an average growth rate of 15 % in the last five years, it has expanded faster than any other European country. Today the sector generates a turnover of 30 billion Euros and employs 300,000 people in more than 30,000 companies. French firms are investing in software, integration and consulting for their intranets and extranets as well as in e-procurement and internet technologies. Investment in new technologies is being made carefully but constantly and the emergence of more "vanilla" applications open the doors for more people and firms to acquire the necessary software without major investments.
There has been a growing focus on the creation of call centers due to competition and authorities have put into place quality support systems. Practices include an analysis of data to improve customer service. 50% of call center activity relates to the services of telecomm clients. France has the 3rd largest number of call centers, behind the UK and Germany, with an estimated growth 10% a year, representing close to 150,000 jobs.
France offers one of the largest road networks in Europe, fully interconnected with the main countries of Western Europe.
The National SNCF railway company operates an extensive national railway system that extends throughout France and into neighboring countries. It has an annual traffic of 295 million passengers and 133.8 billion tones of freight.
There are 143 international and regional airports. Annually over 100 million passengers and 4.8 billion tons-kilometers of freight are carried in 904 aircrafts.
French ports handle more than 300 million tons of goods a year. Five out of the fifteen main ports in Europe are located in France. Annually 210 ships transport 91.5 million tons of freight. France's fleet ranks 28th in the world in tonnage.
France offers an 8,500 km network of navigable waterways, over which 58.7 million tons of goods were transported in 2000.
Strategically positioned at the heart of Europe logistics is one of the largest industrial sectors encompassing more than a million companies and employing over 5 million people. The total value of the logistics market in France is estimated at 120 billion Euros. The logistics sector incorporates a great variety of companies covering the whole cycle of activities: distribution, industrial processing and packing.