You’ve found a flat in Lyon, signed the lease, and booked your flight. Now you’re staring at French ISP websites wondering why every broadband contract wants a 12-month commitment, a French bank account (RIB), and an installation appointment three weeks from now. Meanwhile, you land in six days and need working internet the moment you arrive.

At ConnectPls, we ship portable WiFi devices and eSIMs to expats relocating across Europe every week. The questions are always the same: “What works immediately?” “Do I need a French bank account?” “What if I travel to Spain or Italy on weekends?” This guide answers those questions from the perspective of people who actually support expats through this transition daily.

Why Traditional French Internet Is Difficult for New Arrivals

French home broadband (fibre or ADSL from Orange, Free, Bouygues, SFR) is excellent once you’re settled. It’s fast, affordable, unlimited. The problem is the setup friction. Most providers require:

• A French bank account with a Relevé d’Identité Bancaire (RIB)
• Proof of address (your lease agreement)
• Installation appointments that can take 2-4 weeks
• 12-month minimum contracts in most cases

If you’re arriving mid-October and your Orange technician appointment is November 8th, you have three weeks offline. If you’re a remote worker, that doesn’t work. If you haven’t opened a French bank account yet (which itself requires proof of address), you’re stuck in a circular dependency.

“We managed to stay always connected while travelling around Europe, without having to buy SIM cards in every country and ending up with a handful of them with different balances we couldn’t use. Excellent support team.”
— Patrícia Reis de Magalhães, verified ConnectPls customer

Four Real Internet Options When You Move to France

Here’s what actually works, based on hundreds of expat setups we’ve seen.

Option	Works Immediately	Requires French Bank Account	Works Outside France	Best For
Home Broadband (Orange, Free, etc.)	No (2-4 week install)	Yes (usually)	No	Permanent residents settled in one city
French Mobile SIM (Bouygues, SFR, Free Mobile)	Yes (if bought in-store)	Often yes, or French card	EU roaming only (fair-use limits)	Expats staying mostly in France
Home-Country Roaming	Yes	No	Yes (expensive)	Short trips only — not sustainable
Portable WiFi Subscription (e.g. ConnectPls)	Yes (ships before you fly)	No	Yes (160+ countries)	Digital nomads, frequent travelers, initial months while settling

Option 1: Portable WiFi Subscription — Working From Day One

This is the option most expats don’t know exists. ConnectPls ships a mobile router (device included, not a rental you return) to your UK address, your new French address, or wherever you are before the move. You activate it for the months you need it. No French bank account, no installation, no technician appointment.

The device connects up to 10 devices at once. Your laptop, phone, tablet, partner’s devices. The Plus Europe package gives you truly unlimited data (no throttling, no fair-use caps) across France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Netherlands, UK, Ireland, and about 70 countries total. If you’re an expat who travels to Barcelona for a long weekend or visits family in the UK, it just works without switching SIMs or buying new plans.

We use Cloud SIM technology (switches between French operators automatically for the best signal) plus a backup physical SIM slot. Delivery is 2-3 working days across Europe. Billing is monthly and flexible. You’re not locked into a year-long contract. When you finally get your Orange fibre installed in December, you can pause or cancel the subscription. There’s a £25 fee only if you cancel a mobile router plan within the first three months, which covers the device shipping and return logistics.

Real scenario: A software engineer moved to Toulouse in September. We shipped his device to his Airbnb before he flew. He worked from cafés and his temporary flat for five weeks while waiting for his Orange installation. Once fibre was live, he kept the device active at a lower data tier for weekend trips to the Pyrenees and a work conference in Amsterdam. That’s the kind of flexibility a fixed contract can’t offer.

Option 2: French Local SIM Cards — Good, But With Setup Friction

French mobile carriers (Bouygues, SFR, Free Mobile, Orange) offer SIM-only plans with generous data allowances. Free Mobile’s €19.99/month plan includes 210GB in France and EU roaming. The catch: most require a French bank account or at least a French payment card. You can sometimes buy a prepaid SIM in a tabac or supermarket with cash, but topping up and managing the account online often needs French payment details later.

EU roaming is included by law, but with fair-use limits. If you spend two months in Spain, your French carrier may flag it. These plans are excellent once you’re settled and staying mostly in France. They’re less flexible if you’re a consultant flying to client meetings in Dubai or a van lifer doing three months across the Balkans.

Option 3: eSIMs — Lightweight, But Device-Specific

eSIMs (embedded SIMs activated digitally) are fast to set up and work on newer iPhones, Google Pixels, and some Samsung models. ConnectPls offers eSIM subscriptions alongside portable WiFi. Same monthly billing, same 160+ country coverage, no device to carry.

The limitation: eSIMs work on one device (your phone). If you need to hotspot to a laptop for video calls, it drains your phone battery. If you’re traveling with a partner and both need connectivity, you each need a separate eSIM plan. For a solo traveler with a compatible phone who mostly works from WiFi-enabled spaces, eSIMs are brilliant. For a couple sharing data, or someone who needs multi-device connectivity without battery drain, portable WiFi makes more sense.

Option 4: Home-Country Roaming — Fine for a Week, Painful for Months

If you’re moving from the UK on Three or Vodafone, roaming in France will work initially. But sustained roaming (more than a few months) often triggers fair-use warnings, and rates can change. EU roaming was protected by regulation, but Brexit changed the rules for UK carriers. Some reintroduced roaming charges. Even if your plan includes EU roaming, it’s designed for holidays, not relocation. You’ll eventually need a French or EU-based solution.

What Most France-Bound Expats Actually Do

The pattern we see most often: expats use a portable WiFi subscription or eSIM for the first 1-3 months while they sort out a French bank account, proof of address, and home broadband. Once the fibre is installed and stable, they either cancel the subscription or keep it active at a lower tier for travel. Some keep both. Fixed broadband at home, portable WiFi for work trips to Germany or summer road trips to Portugal.

If you’re moving to Paris or Marseille and plan to stay put, a French SIM plus home broadband is the long-term solution. If you’re a location-independent consultant, teacher, or digital marketer who chose France as a base but travels regularly, a monthly WiFi subscription avoids the hassle of juggling multiple SIM cards and roaming fees across borders.

Cheapest WiFi in France: Monthly Plans Without Commitment

French home broadband starts around €20-30/month once installed. French mobile SIMs with large data allowances are €10-25/month. ConnectPls portable WiFi subscriptions are more expensive than fixed broadband (because you’re paying for 160+ country coverage, included hardware, and flexibility), but cheaper than daily pocket WiFi rentals or sustained roaming charges.

The calculation isn’t just price per gigabyte. It’s cost of friction. If you lose two weeks of freelance income waiting for an Orange technician, or burn a Saturday trying to open a French bank account before you can sign up for a SIM, the “cheapest” option isn’t actually cheap. A working internet connection the day you land has a value beyond the monthly fee.

Motorhome Broadband for France and Spain: A Growing Use Case

We’ve seen a sharp increase in van lifers and motorhome travelers using subscription WiFi across France and Spain. The Plus Europe package covers both countries with truly unlimited data (no throttling after 5GB like some “unlimited” plans). You’re not hunting for campsite WiFi passwords or relying on sketchy McDonald’s connections for client video calls.

One couple we support drives a campervan from Brittany to Andalusia every autumn. They activate the device in September, cancel in December when they return to the UK, then reactivate the following year. No long-term contract, no paying for months they’re not traveling. That’s the flexibility a subscription model offers that traditional contracts don’t.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a French bank account to get internet when I move to France?

For traditional home broadband and most French mobile contracts, yes. Providers typically require a French RIB (bank account number). Portable WiFi subscriptions like ConnectPls don’t require a French bank account; you can pay with any international debit or credit card. This makes them useful as a bridge solution while you’re setting up local banking.

Can I use portable WiFi in France and then travel to Italy or Spain without changing plans?

Yes, if the plan covers those countries. ConnectPls Plus Europe includes France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Portugal, and about 70 total countries under “Group 0” with truly unlimited data and no throttling. You cross the border and the Cloud SIM switches to a local network automatically. You don’t buy a new SIM or change settings.

How long does it take to get home broadband installed in France as a new expat?

Typically 2-4 weeks from signing the contract to installation, sometimes longer in rural areas or during peak moving season (September). You’ll need proof of address (your lease) and usually a French bank account before you can even book the appointment. If you’re arriving mid-month and starting remote work immediately, plan for a gap and have a backup internet solution ready.