France Moves Forward: Orange Phases Out ADSL

Orange Accelerates the End of ADSL in 763 French Towns

France’s leading telecom provider, Orange, has reached a key milestone in its plan to retire the ageing copper network behind traditional ADSL internet. On January 27, 2026, the company permanently switched off ADSL and fixed-line services in 763 communes, marking a major step in France’s national transition to fibre-optic broadband.

A Historic Shift in France’s Internet Infrastructure

This large-scale shutdown affects around 860,000 homes and businesses across 53 departments, including both rural and urban areas — from small villages to parts of Lyon’s 6th arrondissement and the city of Ajaccio.

Bénédicte Javelot, Orange’s Director of Strategic Projects, described the move as “a major leap forward” in the company’s transformation plan. Until now, the shutdown had affected about 253,000 connections, but this new wave represents a significant acceleration of the project.

Why Orange Is Closing the Copper Network

The copper telephone network, introduced in the 1960s and repurposed for ADSL in the 1990s, is expensive and increasingly obsolete. Maintaining it costs Orange an estimated €500 million per year. Meanwhile, the number of ADSL customers has dropped sharply — down 40% in 2025, leaving just 3.8 million users, compared with 28.3 million fibre subscribers, according to Arcep.

A Fast-Paced Timeline: The Road to 2030

Orange’s full copper phase-out is organised into seven phases, targeting total completion by 2030.
Here’s what’s coming next:

2025: 162 communes were disconnected in the first wave.
2026: 763 communes (January phase) officially lose ADSL service.
2027: Over 2,000 additional towns will follow.
2030: All copper lines in France will be permanently switched off.

From January 31, 2026, Orange will also stop selling new ADSL subscriptions in 26,000 communes. However, about 8,000 localities — nearly half the country — will have their deadlines extended by a year to allow more time for fibre rollout.

Still Connected: The Remaining ADSL Users

Surprisingly, around 39,000 customers in the newly disconnected zones were still using ADSL this month. Orange reassures that no major issues were encountered during last year’s first phase and that 95% of French homes are now eligible for a fibre connection.

What This Means for Consumers

This change brings several long-term benefits for internet users in France:

Faster speeds: Fibre delivers speeds up to 100 times faster than ADSL.
More reliable connections: Less interference and latency.
Future-proof technology: Supports streaming, remote work, IoT, and smart home use.
Greener energy use: Fibre requires less power and maintenance than copper.

However, Orange advises users still on copper lines to contact their provider for assistance in switching to fibre or an alternative technology such as 4G/5G fixed wireless.

A Big Step Toward a Digital France

The phasing out of ADSL is more than a technical upgrade — it’s part of France’s national ambition to achieve full fibre connectivity by 2030, ensuring every household and business has access to high-performance internet.

As Orange and other providers continue to expand coverage, rural and underserved regions remain the focus of government-backed initiatives. The copper shutdown marks both the end of an era and the beginning of a truly fibre-powered France.