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French PAYG Sim Cards
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BKM
15-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“why bother getting a French SIM any more when you can simply bring a Three UK SIM with you and use that?”

In my experience (March 2015) the data SPEEDs on 3 UK SIMs used in France were not great - perhaps just where I was but I did read that (on all UK networks????) all foreign data access was routed back the UK operator (3 in my case) through a network pipe.

If true then networks offering 4G abroad might be perpetrating something of a con - as the true speed limitation might be the speed of their connection back to the UK!
culabula
15-06-2015
Originally Posted by lightspeed2398:
“Having a look I saw this as well: https://www.bouyguestelecom.fr/forfait-internet-mobile

I'm presuming Sans Engagement means without contract. 6Gb for €14,90 doesn't look bad.”

It's without contract but not exactly prepaid. You have to pay 14,90 a month to get that (includes TV). I'd assume you'd need to be a French resident to benefit.

(In other words it's a SIM-only deal and not of any great use for casual visitors).
lightspeed2398
15-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“It's without contract but not exactly prepaid. You have to pay 14,90 a month to get that (includes TV). I'd assume you'd need to be a French resident to benefit.

(In other words it's a SIM-only deal and not of any great use for casual visitors).”

Makes sense. Thought it seemed to good to be true.
rasseru16
15-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“It's without contract but not exactly prepaid. You have to pay 14,90 a month to get that (includes TV). I'd assume you'd need to be a French resident to benefit.

(In other words it's a SIM-only deal and not of any great use for casual visitors).”

Trouble is a French bank is required and for that a French address...

You are correct about the Forfait Sans Engagement, it's basically the same as our rolling sim only deals but can be cancelled at any time without notice. Most French prefer this over prepaid which is why there is some very attractive offers on them plans.
jonmorris
15-06-2015
I got over 20Mbps quite regularly with a Three SIM roaming in France. Video streaming won't work unless you use a VPN though.

If you get a PAYG MBB SIM and add whatever data you want, you'll be able to tether with it in a MiFi or dongle. Otherwise it will be handset only.
rasseru16
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“I got over 20Mbps quite regularly with a Three SIM roaming in France. Video streaming won't work unless you use a VPN though.

If you get a PAYG MBB SIM and add whatever data you want, you'll be able to tether with it in a MiFi or dongle. Otherwise it will be handset only.”

This is a good idea but all my tethered devices would need to also connect to the VPN too...
culabula
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by rasseru16:
“Can you let me know if you have success getting one?

As others have said I'm fully aware I could take my 3 mobile broadband sim to France but I don't mind paying extra for 4G speed which is what I'd like and of course to use the data exactly how I want: streaming”

Went to the first Orange Boutique that I saw. Asked. Yep, no problem. Got. Paid. Left. Inserted. Worked. Immediately.

Total time -6 minutes. I'd have worn I was back in Ireland !

Confirm full 4G plus use of hotspot.

Génial! «Comme une lettre a la poste » 🍷🇫🇷
culabula
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“I got over 20Mbps quite regularly with a Three SIM roaming in France. Video streaming won't work unless you use a VPN though.

If you get a PAYG MBB SIM and add whatever data you want, you'll be able to tether with it in a MiFi or dongle. Otherwise it will be handset only.”

Have never got anything resembling these speeds. However, don't understand why it would work any better with a VPN. Traditionally these slow things down (as indeed, Three UK advise in their literature).
lightspeed2398
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“Have never got anything resembling these speeds. However, don't understand why it would work any better with a VPN. Traditionally these slow things down (as indeed, Three UK advise in their literature).”

There are a few VPN services they don't throttle I think. It helps bypass then whatever network prioritisation or blocking they use.
AD
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“Went to the first Orange Boutique that I saw. Asked. Yep, no problem. Got. Paid. Left. Inserted. Worked. Immediately.

Total time -6 minutes. I'd have worn I was back in Ireland !

Confirm full 4G plus use of hotspot.

Génial! «Comme une lettre a la poste » 🍷🇫🇷”

What did you get exactly, was it just a sim or the MiFi it goes in as well?

Looking on their website it looks like they offer two different 4G MiFi one for €54.90 and one with a more detailed digital display for €119.90
jonmorris
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“Have never got anything resembling these speeds. However, don't understand why it would work any better with a VPN. Traditionally these slow things down (as indeed, Three UK advise in their literature).”

VPNs do slow things down a bit but you simply won't be able to use video streaming services on Three abroad otherwise.

The speeds I got were in and around Disneyland Paris and I was very impressed, and I managed decent speeds on Eurostar too. I didn't use the VPN much there, but simply mentioned the need in case the OP wanted or needed video streaming.

I should also add that in addition to blocking video streaming, downloading apps via Google Play was also severely throttled and, again, a VPN removed the slow down.

I do wish Three was a bit more open about how it manages traffic for people roaming. The same applies even if you're paying the £5 daily fee to use data elsewhere in the EU.
culabula
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by AD:
“What did you get exactly, was it just a sim or the MiFi it goes in as well?

Looking on their website it looks like they offer two different 4G MiFi one for €54.90 and one with a more detailed digital display for €119.90”

All I wanted was the SIM for 14,90€. They now come as a triple SIM, so I pushed out the nano which I put in my iPad from where I can, if I wish, share the 4G data. I also have a Mifi with me, but that is only 3G, so I have a backup 3UK SIM in there.
mupet0000
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by jonmorris:
“VPNs do slow things down a bit but you simply won't be able to use video streaming services on Three abroad otherwise.

The speeds I got were in and around Disneyland Paris and I was very impressed, and I managed decent speeds on Eurostar too. I didn't use the VPN much there, but simply mentioned the need in case the OP wanted or needed video streaming.

I should also add that in addition to blocking video streaming, downloading apps via Google Play was also severely throttled and, again, a VPN removed the slow down.

I do wish Three was a bit more open about how it manages traffic for people roaming. The same applies even if you're paying the £5 daily fee to use data elsewhere in the EU.”

When I was in Italy (roaming on 3 ITA), everything seemed fast except HTTPS traffic and YouTube. When I used a VPN, everything became slow.
rasseru16
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“Went to the first Orange Boutique that I saw. Asked. Yep, no problem. Got. Paid. Left. Inserted. Worked. Immediately.

Total time -6 minutes. I'd have worn I was back in Ireland !

Confirm full 4G plus use of hotspot.

Génial! «Comme une lettre a la poste » 🍷🇫🇷”

Great stuff! I will be picking one of those SIM's up when I'm in France next week. What's also good is it comes with 2GB of data ready to use

You can buy 1GB of 4G data for €10.00 so almost the same price as 3's 1GB MBB data for £10.00
ihatemarmite
16-06-2015
be warned - not all Orange boutiques are as fast and efficient as culabula's......
the French are scalped by their mobile companies too. Until recently I was calling friends there on my UK mobile and just using leClerc for them to call me. One of them recently told me that they get charged for receiving a call from a UK number! So now I'm back to using the rip off PAYG rates from leClerc. It's only their auto top up and non expiring credit that keeps me with them.
Friends of mine pay what we'd pay for huge data/call allowance for 2 hours communication each month and no data!
AD
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by ihatemarmite:
“be warned - not all Orange boutiques are as fast and efficient as culabula's......
the French are scalped by their mobile companies too. Until recently I was calling friends there on my UK mobile and just using leClerc for them to call me. One of them recently told me that they get charged for receiving a call from a UK number! So now I'm back to using the rip off PAYG rates from leClerc. It's only their auto top up and non expiring credit that keeps me with them.
Friends of mine pay what we'd pay for huge data/call allowance for 2 hours communication each month and no data!”

The other thing to be wary of with occasional use on orange.fr is the need to keep SIM cards alive, I recall having to buy a couple of small top up's that needed to be applied every 6 months just to stop the SIM card from "dying".
Not sure whether this is still the case?
rasseru16
16-06-2015
Originally Posted by AD:
“The other thing to be wary of with occasional use on orange.fr is the need to keep SIM cards alive, I recall having to buy a couple of small top up's that needed to be applied every 6 months just to stop the SIM card from "dying".
Not sure whether this is still the case?”

I believe with their prepaid mobile broadband offer it is 12 months line validity. Not the case with Orange Mobicarte though.
culabula
18-06-2015
I got an SMS from them last night kindly informing me I have a 12-month line....felt SO privileged.
rasseru16
18-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“I got an SMS from them last night kindly informing me I have a 12-month line....felt SO privileged.”

Did you ask for your sim card in French? I ask because my French isn't all that
culabula
18-06-2015
Originally Posted by rasseru16:
“Did you ask for your sim card in French? I ask because my French isn't all that ”

Yes, I'm fortunate in that I speak French fluently.
culabula
20-06-2015
There's more good news regarding the Orange France SIM (it pays to read the included booklet).

First of all, you're entitled to free access to all Orange Hotspots throughout France.

Secondly, you're invited to download their app "Mon Réseau" which facilitates such access.

Too late for me -I'm home.
rasseru16
20-06-2015
Originally Posted by culabula:
“There's more good news regarding the Orange France SIM (it pays to read the included booklet).

First of all, you're entitled to free access to all Orange Hotspots throughout France.

Secondly, you're invited to download their app "Mon Réseau" which facilitates such access.

Too late for me -I'm home.”

Merci beaucoup
rasseru16
21-07-2015
Just a head's up it is possible to buy a Free Mobile "prepaid contract" sim card which gives you 20GB of 4G data in Free coverage zones and 2G/3G national roaming on Orange France, bare in mind to get the 20GB data you need to have a device which supports LTE 2600Mhz. You can buy the sim cards from terminals (like vending machines) from all over france for €30.00 (one off payment), the offer is valid for 1 month ONLY and then the sim card expires for good.

You can buy your sim cards from the terminals with a bank card only here: http://mobile.free.fr/couverture/borne_interactive.html

Further information on the 1 month sim only (not rolling contract) is available here: https://goo.gl/TnxP0N (Translated from French to English)
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