Experimental aid will be paid from September, subject to income conditions, to help certain households connect to fiber optics. The aid, aimed at unblocking complex connections, is particularly aimed at individuals located in areas where the closure of the copper network (telephone, ADSL) is imminent.
The system was awaited by mayors. And even if it is currently a simple experiment, it already has the merit of existing. Starting in September, eligible households will be able to apply for assistance to connect to fiber optics. This grant, the amount of which depends on each situation, is particularly aimed at households in areas where the copper network is imminently shut down.
It will be issued subject to means-tested conditions and aims to finance the necessary connection work on applicants' properties – in the most complicated situations that previously prevented the affected households from being connected. As our colleagues at UFC-Que Choisir point out, this aid was announced on the sidelines of the Avisa conference held in the spring in the presence of the Minister of Industry and Energy, Marc Ferracci.
The State is providing €16 million to help these households connect to fiber
The stakeholders reported the numerous problems sometimes encountered by those involved in the deployment, including blockages in the technical ducts, the absence of a pole, and other buried inspection points. To apply, the technician must first note the connection difficulties. Afterward, they will send a certificate to the subscriber. Armed with this document, the user can then connect to a dedicated website, where they will need to provide more specific information about connection difficulties.
After completing the form, they will obtain the amount of aid to which they are entitled. From there, they can contact the company of their choice to complete the connection. The aid is directly deducted from the total amount of the bill, with no upfront costs for the subscriber. Initially, the experiment will only cover the municipalities in lots 1, 2, and 3, which will be affected by a copper network shutdown by January 2026.
An initial envelope of €16 million is planned by the State. However, it is regrettable at this stage that nothing has yet been decided regarding the continuation or not of this subsidy beyond this experimental phase, for households affected by similar difficulties in the rest of the country.
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