Internet and cell phone service in Paris.

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We recommend a tour of the Louvre with a Russian-speaking guide and a sightseeing tour of Paris.

Internet and mobile communications

Every day we find it harder and harder to imagine existence without the Internet and cell phones. Social networks, E-mail, news – all of these have long been the basis of our morning coffee. Deprived of these benefits of civilization, we feel as if in isolation.

When you go to Paris, you don’t want to be without cell phone and internet connection. You should think about solving this issue in advance.

It is especially important to note that being in Paris, you want to send your photos to friends, relatives and acquaintances as soon as possible. Therefore, let’s look for ways to find favorable Internet connections in the French capital.

It is easier and more convenient to get an international SIM card that works in Paris as well. It will be easier and cheaper. But we are not looking for easy ways.

Local mobile communication

You can use the services of local cell phone operators. Many of them provide prepaid services. To use the service, it is enough to buy a SIM card with an initial balance, which can then be recharged. You can buy them at the cash desks of large supermarkets.

You can go to your local network operator to buy a SIM card. But then be prepared to have to explain in detail what you want to get. In most cases, you will have to explain in French.

At kiosks, you cannot now buy a SIM card for the Internet without a passport, but only for calls.

Choosing a SIM card

As you know, sims come in different sizes.

Depending on the model your smartphone supports, you choose sim / nano-sim/ micro-sim.

Be sure to check what is included, and the card should have the word Internet written on it and indicate how much is included.

Each operator has its own principle of providing mobile communication services. It is either a fixed amount for Internet traffic or payment per megabyte.

Telecom operators in France

It is worth noting that you should buy a local SIM card only if you plan to stay in France for a long time. It will not only help you save significantly on mobile communication costs, but also become a convenient means of communication.

The main cell phone operators in France are as follows:

1) Orange

2) SFR

3) Bouygues Telecom

4) FREE

Of the companies listed above, the first three have been on the French market for a long time, and their tariffs are about the same. The starting package will cost about thirty euros, but the quality of communication is very high. True, the prices are not comparable with those in Russia.

FREE

In 2012, an operator called FREE entered the French mobile market, luring customers with very low tariffs and favorable conditions.

SFR Operator

is considered relatively expensive. It can cost up to fifty euros per month to use its services.

Operator Orange

has a variety of tariff plans, and communication costs can be as low as twenty euros per month. It is the leader among all French operators.

Bouygues

Bouygues Telecom has roughly similar prices.

There are also many other virtual operators on the territory, which are basically intermediaries of the main providers.

It should also be noted that using the internet in France is more expensive than the EU average. Most locals prefer the contract form of service. This is very logical, because a contract is cheaper than prepayment, sometimes many times over.

Tourists, on the other hand, do not have to count on the same loyal rates.

How to call

An equally important piece of information for a tourist or visitor is how to dial local and international numbers correctly. We will talk about this further on.

Call from France to France

All numbers have 10 digits and start with 0.

France is divided into 5 geographical zones whose telephone prefixes vary:

• 01 (Paris and its region),
• 02 (North-West region, Réunion and Mayotte),
• 03 (Northeast Region),
• 04 (South-East region)
• and 05 (Southwest Region and Atlantic Ocean DOM-COM).

Cell phones start with 06 or 07. Special tariff numbers start with 08.

A call from abroad to France

Dial 00 (international prefix), then 33 (France), and then the code without 0.

Example: 00 33 1 40 00 00 00 00 00.

Call from France to another country

Dial the international prefix 00, country code, zone number without 0.

Examples: 49 for Germany, 44 for the United Kingdom, 39 for Italy, 34 for Spain, 11 (AT & T) or 19 (MCII) for the United States, 16 for Canada (0 800 99 30 16 AT & T Canada).

Cell phones

Ask your operator, who will tell you whether your cell phone is technically and commercially compatible with French networks and how you will be billed for calls you receive from or make from your home country. (local or international).

Warning. To browse the Internet and send MMS messages from your smartphone, you must enable data roaming (unless you are using a wireless network). This feature, available from your device settings, may incur costs.

Connection to French networks

Foreign cell phones do not automatically connect to French networks. You must search for the “Network selection” function on your mobile device to connect manually.

It is also possible to get a prepaid SIM card that allows you to use your cell phone with French networks, knowing exactly what you are paying for.

Adapter

Keep in mind that you may need to use an adapter.