France: Completely Wired in 5 Years

Growing concern that rural areas would miss out on high speed Internet connections has led France to undertake an ambitious task of wiring its entire land mass within five years time. Under the plan, local communities will be provided with loans of up to $1.3 billion. That money would then be earmarked to lay down fiber across the countryside. The total estimated cost of the project dwells around 30 billion francs.

First reported by Reuters, the government is also considering utility lines owned by state-controlled Electricite de France to be ideal pathways for fiber optic networks. Citing the low profit potential of rural markets as a barrier to investment by the private sector, a government spokesperson predicted that 70-80 percent of the country would not have access to high speed Internet connections if not for government action. Full details of the plan will be announced today.