Given its size, France has relatively few mobile networks, with only Orange, Bouygues Télécom, and SFR licensed for GSM and UMTS. However, the country’s large number of mobile virtual network operators (or MVNOs, which provide mobile phone services but do not have their own licensed frequency allocations of their own) are working to increase competition. These MVNOs are roughly equivalent to “switchless resellers” in the traditional landline market.
As of 2006, France had over 11 million broadband connections (of which 94% are ADSL subscribers), making France the second largest ADSL market in Europe. Intense competition among France’s many internet service providers, particularly in major metropolitan areas. Currently, the country has approximately 70 internet service providers and over 3 million internet hosts. The number of internet service providers in the country is estimated to be about 30 million. A recent study by the European Interactive Advertising Association (EIAA) has also shown that France leads the rest of Europe in terms of the numbers of hours spent online by internet users (with French user spending about 13 hours a week online).
