Hi, we're hoping to live in France April - September shortly but the little village our house is in has no broadband or internet available as the phone lines are so old nobody's works with the net. Does anyone else have this problem and how have you overcome it please?

Can you not get even slow internet using the old 'dial-up' system?
The other option is satellite but obviously it costs more and if you're only there 6/12 you may not feel it's worth it.
Or if you have a good mobile signal on any of the networks, for 6 months you could maybe manage with a mifi device?

It appears the telecom exchanges nearby limit your options. For fast broadband it appears a satellite connection is recommended – this is what is recommended to achieve the minimum speeds needed for Orange TV.

How is your mobile phone signal? A mobile Internet package might be possible.

A visit to an Orange shop might reveal more options available only because of the limited exchange.

Hi, we have just bought an AIRBOX 4g mobile internet pack from Orange, 60e with 2gb start up and you top up as you go as you would with a phone. On the surface, looks quite good! We are in a hamlet and although we have internet (which is atrocious), we bought it as a solution for guests in our gite. May be the way to go. It can also be used in the car etc...............bonus!

2Gb will vanish quick.......

+1

I have used satellite internet in the US, as ET said it will cost more. It does and the best package from one of the top suppliers was cr@p.

I use a satellite system because my telecom line is old and unlikely to be upgraded. With the wind behind all I could get was 1 mg and the best any one could get in the village is 2 mb. The initial installation cost me nearly 18 months ago was around 600 euros. The monthly charge is 35.50 for unlimited access, and the bandwidth is better than 14 mb at most times, up to 18 in the mornings and down to 10 late afternoon and evenings. My tv receiver is also on the same dish.(french tv) and I have a separate dish for the UK TV systems (using on tv set).

We too are in the process of installing a satellite, system since we got permission from the Mairie to install a second dish. they are relenting because the quality of the service has finally been acknowledged.

At the moment it seems we don't have to pay for the installation though we can if we wish which would reduce our monthly costs to exactly the same as we pay now for totally useless connection we have.

I can no longer shop on line with any certainty because biggest sites just crash.

I hope it works out as well for us as it seems to for you. frugeos. I might be able to skype my family with a bit of luck.

I hope so for your sake. I use SkyDSL. Are you using Nordnet or some such affiliate of France Telecom ? Data may not be illimited. I get very good reception on Skype with relations in both Australia and the US.

Thanks for that. I refuse to have anything to do with Sky. We are going with the Orange subsiduary.

Our "Brit Sat," as we call it, connects us with Freeserve + It is absolutely fine except when there is heavy rain!!

SkyDSL is not the same as Sky as you know it.it is a German company. It is called Sky because it is by satellite. I don't have anything to do with sky à la Murdoch neither.