By The essentials
- Orange runs the network that Sosh and many low-cost brands resell: choosing between them is a question of service and price, not of coverage;
- it is the only major French operator with a helpline answering in English;
- home internet starts at 24,99 € on fibre, and a mobile plan at 2,99 €;
- a Livebox is sold on a promotional price for twelve months, then moves up: 29,99 € becomes 42,99 €;
- the Mobicarte prepaid SIM is the only Orange product that needs no French bank details at all.
Need help in English to choose an Orange offer? Free Selectra advice line for English speakers. We compare Orange, Sosh and other French operators for your address and finalise the subscription with you.
Who is Orange in France?
Orange is the rebranded version of France Télécom, the country's former state-owned telephone monopoly. The Orange brand was first launched in the United Kingdom in 1994, acquired by France Télécom in 2000, and progressively rolled out across all the group's activities. In 2013, France Télécom officially renamed itself Orange S.A.
Today, Orange operates the largest fixed and mobile network in France, alongside three main competitors: SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free. That ranking is not self-declared: the French regulator ARCEP measures it every year in its mobile quality-of-service survey (in French), and you can check what it means at your own address on its coverage map. Orange also owns the copper telephone network historically inherited from France Télécom, and is the main rollout operator for fibre optic across the territory. The group also runs Sosh, its low-cost online brand aimed at younger and budget-conscious customers.
For a foreign resident, the main practical advantages of choosing Orange are:
Support in English
The widest coverage
Three ways to subscribe
No-commitment options
Orange internet offers: Livebox fibre and ADSL
Orange sells its home internet under the Livebox brand. Every Livebox plan is a "triple play" bundle that combines internet, an unlimited landline phone line and (depending on the box) a TV decoder with around 140 channels. All plans run on a 12-month minimum commitment, with a flat termination fee if you leave early.
The technology available at your address depends on the local network: fibre optic (FTTH), ADSL/VDSL over the copper line, or a satellite or 4G Home solution in rural areas not yet covered. You can test your address eligibility in store, by phone or on the operator's website.
Livebox fibre offers
Fibre is the fastest and usually the cheapest Orange technology, with no installation fee once your building is connected. Speeds and equipment vary by tier (Livebox 5 on the entry plan, Livebox 6 Wi-Fi 6E on the mid tier, Livebox 7 SE Wi-Fi 7 on the premium tier).
Livebox ADSL offers
ADSL and VDSL2 run over the existing copper phone line. They are slower than fibre (up to 50 Mbit/s on VDSL2, less on standard ADSL) but remain the default option in areas not yet covered by fibre. Orange has started phasing out the copper network on selected cities, so check the fibre eligibility first.
Things to know before subscribing
- 0 € setup fee on the Livebox range, charged on your first bill; on top of that, if a new copper line needs to be built, Orange charges 119,00 €.
- The Livebox modem rental is included in the monthly price.
- Fibre installation requires a technician appointment at your home (usually free).
- 12-month minimum commitment: leaving early triggers a fixed termination fee, except for legitimate reasons such as moving abroad.
- If you switch to Orange and keep your landline number, Orange reimburses up to 150,00 € of your previous provider's termination fees.
- After cancellation, you have 30 days to return the equipment or you will be charged.
Orange mobile plans
Orange offers two main mobile families: postpaid SIM-only plans (with or without 24-month handset commitment) and prepaid Mobicarte SIMs for occasional users. All mobile plans include roaming in Europe and the French overseas departments at no extra cost, so you can use your French SIM exactly like at home when you travel within the EU.
A few practical points before you choose:
- You will need a French bank account (IBAN) to subscribe to a postpaid plan. A foreign IBAN is not always accepted.
- Your phone must be unlocked to take an Orange SIM card. All smartphones sold in Europe since 2020 are 5G-ready, so you do not need a "5G-compatible" model specifically.
- SIM activation fee on no-commitment plans: 10,00 €.
- If you also have an Orange Livebox at home, you get a discount on the mobile plan price.
Current Orange mobile plans
The range splits in two, and that split is what decides your bill. On one side, plans sold on their own, which you can leave at any time. On the other, plans sold with a subsidised handset, cheaper on the phone but tied to a two-year contract. Compare within one family, never across the two.
Which Orange plan should you choose?
Pick by monthly mobile data usage, not by phone model:
Light user
Average user
Heavy user or tethering
Pick the right Orange mobile plan for your usage A Selectra advisor compares the current Orange line-up and finalises the SIM order in one call.
Orange Mobicarte: prepaid SIM cards
The Mobicarte is Orange's prepaid SIM. It is sold online and in store with no commitment, no monthly bill and no automatic renewal. You pay a single flat price for a fixed bundle of data, calls and SMS that lasts 30 days, then your line stays open as long as you top up before each bundle expires.
In 2026, Orange sells four Mobicarte bundles, all rechargeable monthly. Pay-per-use top-ups by credit and the older "Pass" formulas (Holiday, Vacances Monde) have been discontinued.
| Bundle | Calls and SMS | Data | Price for 30 days |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mobicarte Mini | 2 h of calls, unlimited SMS to France | Light data allowance | Entry price |
| Mobicarte 150 Go | Unlimited calls and SMS to France | 150 Go in France, EU roaming included | Mid tier |
| Mobicarte 200 Go | Unlimited calls and SMS to France | 200 Go in France, EU roaming included | Upper tier |
| Mobicarte 300 Go | Unlimited calls and SMS to France | 300 Go in France, EU roaming included | Top tier |
Exact prices change with current Orange promotions: check the operator's online store for the up-to-date figure.
For a step-by-step guide to choosing, activating and managing a Mobicarte, see our dedicated Orange prepaid SIM guide.
Subscribing as a tourist? Mobicarte is sold online, in Orange stores and at most French tobacconists with a SIM logo. Bring a valid ID, expect an in-person ID check at activation, and remember that you do not need a French bank account to buy a Mobicarte.
Should you consider Sosh instead?
Sosh is the online-only, low-cost brand owned by Orange. Its plans run on the same network but are sold without any commitment, at cheaper monthly prices, with no TV decoder by default and no English-speaking support. It is the right pick when price weighs more than service and you are comfortable subscribing, paying and disputing a bill entirely online, in French.
Orange customer service in English
Orange is the only major French operator with a dedicated English-speaking helpline. The main contact channels are:
- 3900 from a French line (or +33 9 69 39 39 00 from abroad) for the general customer service in French, open Monday to Saturday, 8 am to 8 pm.
- 09 69 36 39 00 for the English-speaking helpline.
- The Orange et Moi mobile app and the online "Espace Client" portal to manage your contract.
- Orange France's social media accounts (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram).
- Postal mail for formal complaints, broken down by topic (mobile, internet, fibre).
A full breakdown of every phone number, address and online channel is available in our dedicated Orange English contact guide.
If you prefer to be guided in English without dealing with Orange's queue, Selectra's English-speaking team can compare Orange and other French operators and finalise the subscription for you. Free service, no commitment.
How to subscribe to Orange as a foreign resident
There are three ways to sign up with Orange:
- Online, on the Orange website (use Google Chrome to translate the pages if needed).
- By phone, by calling the English helpline at 09 69 36 39 00 or the general line at 3900.
- In a physical Orange store, useful if you want a face-to-face ID check.
Documents you will need
- A valid ID document (passport, French ID card or residence permit).
- Proof of address ("justificatif de domicile"): a rental lease, an electricity or water bill, or a recent bank statement.
- A French IBAN for postpaid plans. A foreign IBAN may be accepted on some Mobicarte bundles, but not on Livebox plans.
- For internet plans, the address eligibility result (fibre, ADSL or both): see our guide to opening a French phone line.
Cancelling an Orange contract
You can cancel by phone, via the Espace Client portal, or by registered letter to Orange Service Résiliation, 33734 Bordeaux Cedex 9, France. The cancellation takes effect within 10 days, and you must return any Orange-owned equipment within 30 days. If you cancel before the end of the 12-month commitment, you owe the remaining months plus a flat 69 € termination fee, unless you cancel for a legitimate reason (move abroad, long-term hospitalisation, redundancy).
Talk it through in English before you subscribe
A Selectra advisor goes over the Orange range with you in English, checks what your address can actually take, and handles the subscription in one call.
Our verdict: should you choose Orange?
For most English-speaking residents settling in France, Orange is a safe default, especially for fibre internet at a permanent address and for the English helpline peace of mind. Sosh is the better pick if you want lower monthly bills and are comfortable managing everything online in French. Mobicarte remains the simplest entry point for a French phone number when you arrive, with no bank account required at activation. Orange is rarely the absolute cheapest option, but its network coverage, English support and ability to combine all your services under one provider make it the most expat-friendly choice on the French market.
Subscribe to Orange with English-speaking support
A Selectra advisor compares Orange, Sosh and other French operators for your address, and finalises the subscription with you in one call.