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DETAILED, INTERACTIVE MAPS CAN HELP YOU SEE HOW THE NEW ROLLOUT IS PROGRESSING NEAR YOU France is gradually rolling out fibre internet nationwide, having started the process of replacing the

country’s copper ADSL network from January this year. Here is how to check if fibre has reached you. The best way to check is to use this (extremely detailed) interactive map that shows

whether a specific town is already connected, or soon to be connected, to fibre. It has been created - and is updated - by the French communications regulation authority ARCEP (Autorité de

régulation des communications électroniques, des postes et de la distribution de la presse). The map enables you to search for a specific town or address and/or zoom in to a specific area

and then shows: The colour legend is: Businesses can also check the offers available (on government website le Service Public) in their area if they wish to connect to fibre. The majority of

the country is already at 50-80% or over, but some areas - for example, near Clermont-Ferrand (Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) - are still lacking. Read also: FULL LIST: Copper internet to end in 162

French communes from Friday Read more: Millions must switch to fibre as landlines phased out in France  MORE DETAILED INFORMATION The map also has an ‘advanced mode’, which you can toggle

on and off to the right of the screen. This enables you to see more information about a specific area’s rollout progress.  For example, the screenshot below shows information about central

Bordeaux, and the communes around it. It shows that the city is more than 80% connected, by operators SFR and Orange. Extra details include: * The name of the infrastructure operator

responsible for fibre deployment (e.g. Orange, SFR, Altice France, other) * Whether fibre has been deployed in a specific building by zooming in on the map * The internet operators and

speeds for the area You may also be able to find out more information from the operator that is bringing fibre to the area, and the local mairie should also have more details.  ARCEP also

has a ‘5G deployment observatory’, and a page called l'espace Le Très Haut Débit pour tous, which enables you to track commercial deployments of 5G and 4G+. This is intended to help

local authorities and officials to keep track of the arrival of 5G in their area, but individuals can also use it.  FINANCIAL SUPPORT There is some financial assistance available to help

individual households and businesses gain access to high-quality fibre, in areas in which ADSL is not sufficient and fibre optics have not yet been rolled out.  Read also: Fibre internet:

Scammers exploit copper line phase-out in France  The scheme is called the ‘dispositif Cohésion Numérique des Territoires’ (digital Cohesion of Territories scheme). The amount available

varies between €150-€600 depending on the situation and household resources. You can find out if you are eligible for any financial help, or see what is available in your area, by contacting

a France Services digital advisor, or the Agence Nationale de la Cohésion des Territoires here.