Telephony and Internet networks

Moving to Very High-Speed: the end of ADSL in favor of fiber

Publié le 28 janvier 2025 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The phase-out of ADSL is implemented as of January 31, 2025. The historic copper network that supports this technology - the telephone, the Internet and television - will be phased out and replaced by fiber. Service-Public.fr provides an update on this closure site.

ADSL has been supplemented in recent years by the so-called fiber-optic network, which provides access to a very high-speed connection.

As the owner of the copper network, the Orange operator controls the network closure schedule. This will run until 2030, depending on the progress of the fiber deployment. You are affected by the closure of the copper network even if you have not signed a contract with Orange because the other operators also use this network.

Reminder

ADSL (Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line) is an internet access technology that uses the high frequencies of the telephone line to transmit digital data at very high speed. The French terminology refers to “asymmetric digital connection”.

The steps of the closure

The gradual implementation of the end of the copper network is done in batches of municipalities.

1/ 2024-2025: transition phase

  • Lot 1 (162 municipalities): technical closure on 31 January 2025.
  • Lot 2 (829 municipalities): technical closure on 27 January 2026.

2/ 2026 to 2030: closure phase

  • Lot 3 (2 145 municipalities): technical closure on 31 January 2027.
  • Lot 4: technical closure in January 2028.
  • Lot 5: technical closure in November 2028.
  • Lot 6: technical closure in November 2029.
  • Lot 7: technical closure in November 2030 (no customers on copper network).

One search module lets you know when the copper network in your area will close. Simply enter the postal code or the name of your municipality.

FYI  

“Technical shutdown” means when the network is “off”: services using the copper network (telephone if it is connected to a T socket, ADSL Internet subscription) stop working. Orange has scheduled all lines to close by the end of 2030.

The commercial closure is the cessation of sales of new subscriptions using the copper network, regardless of the operator. Subscriptions already subscribed are, however, maintained. On January 31, 2026, all copper network offerings will close nationally.

Why the end of the copper grid?

This network of more than 50 years old no longer allows a sufficient quality of internet connection for everyday uses. The fiber-optic network is intended to replace the copper network on which the copper telephone network (PSTN, fixed telephony with a T-socket) and high-speed Internet services (DSL) have been based until now.

All premises still using copper-based services are covered, whether they are individual, company or government premises.

Am I eligible for fiber?

To verify your eligibility for fiber optics, you can enter your address on the dedicated page Arcep (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications, Posts and Press Distribution).

If you are eligible, you can find out about consumer subscriptions and contact your preferred provider to connect your home. If your current subscription is limited to the telephone only, you will be able to subscribe to the same type of offer once you have switched to fiber; this is a commitment of the operators.

Please note

To learn more about all the changes brought about by the closure of the copper network, you can visit:

Additional topics

Agenda

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