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PAYG Mobile Broadband in France

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  • 23-06-2014 9:27pm
    #1
    BenEadir
    Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭


    Hi all,

    Mod's, please move this if there is a more appropriate forum.

    I'm going to France for 3 weeks in July/August with the family. We stay on a campsite which has a terrible "broadband" service. It's expensive and useless i.e. 1mb down and 0.5mb up.

    I have two kids and a wife with phones + a tablet and a laptops so I'd like to set up a Wifi hotspot using an old phone we have with a local French PAYG sim but I haven't a clue if such a package exists and how I should go about organising one.

    I'd like to pre pay for a months worth of 3G data or 10GB, stick the sim into an old Android phone I have which has mobile hotspot functionality and let all of us connect to it as we need to rather than each of us pay roaming charges.

    Any suggestions?

    Ben


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    #2
    califano
    Registered Users Posts: 5,440 ✭✭✭califano


    Dont think your going to get anything like broadband with a payg sim and hotspot with further dilute this. There was a thread last week on bargain alerts forum with some good sim only payg deals price wise but speeds arents stated so im assuming its the equivalent of 3g.


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    #3
    Vico1612
    Registered Users Posts: 915 ✭✭✭Vico1612


    BenThere wrote: »
    Hi all,

    Mod's, please move this if there is a more appropriate forum.

    I'm going to France for 3 weeks in July/August with the family. We stay on a campsite which has a terrible "broadband" service. It's expensive and useless i.e. 1mb down and 0.5mb up.

    I have two kids and a wife with phones + a tablet and a laptops so I'd like to set up a Wifi hotspot using an old phone we have with a local French PAYG sim but I haven't a clue if such a package exists and how I should go about organising one.

    I'd like to pre pay for a months worth of 3G data or 10GB, stick the sim into an old Android phone I have which has mobile hotspot functionality and let all of us connect to it as we need to rather than each of us pay roaming charges.

    Any suggestions?

    Ben

    Your best bet is to drop in one of the French mobile phone providers [ SFR / Bouygues / Orange ] shops and see which PAYG offers they have.
    To give you an idea, Bouygues have a PAYG plan 31 days / 6Gb / 30€
    http://www.laboutique.bouyguestelecom.fr/offres-mobiles/offres-bbox-nomad-prepayees.html


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    #4
    BenEadir
    Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    Vico1612 wrote: »
    To give you an idea, Bouygues have a PAYG plan 31 days / 6Gb / 30€
    http://www.laboutique.bouyguestelecom.fr/offres-mobiles/offres-bbox-nomad-prepayees.html

    That prepaid SIM deal of €9.90 for the SIM and €30 for 31 days broadband (up to 6GB) looks better value than what's on offer in the campsite. the only thing is I can't remember which network has the best signal on the site. I guess I'll have to wait and see.

    Cheers,

    Ben


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    #5
    September1
    Registered Users Posts: 1,432 ✭✭✭September1


    There are couple good ideas in this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057206772


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    #6
    addict
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭addict


    Apply for a Joe Mobile sim and it will be delivered to your address here and ready to go when you hit France with 4g ect you can top up from net if need be from France via there website and signal all over France is first class as I have used it for 3years also gives you free french phone calls


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    #7
    BenEadir
    Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    September1 wrote: »
    There are couple good ideas in this thread http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2057206772

    Super stuff Sept1, I just ordered the free sim from http://www.lebara.fr/s-inscrire?isoCode=en_GB. 10GB for €25 is a pretty good deal http://www.lebara.fr/boutique/illimite

    Ben


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    #8
    BenEadir
    Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    addict wrote: »
    Apply for a Joe Mobile sim and it will be delivered to your address here and ready to go when you hit France with 4g ect you can top up from net if need be from France via there website and signal all over France is first class as I have used it for 3years also gives you free french phone calls

    Is the Joe Mobile offer 4G only? The phone I want to use as a mobile hotspot is 3G only.

    Ben


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    #9
    addict
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭addict


    No it's 3G as well , it's just that they now do 4g which is available now in a lot of France if your with correct provider


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    #10
    clacks
    Registered Users Posts: 203 ✭✭clacks


    addict wrote: »
    Apply for a Joe Mobile sim and it will be delivered to your address here and ready to go when you hit France with 4g ect you can top up from net if need be from France via there website and signal all over France is first class as I have used it for 3years also gives you free french phone calls


    No problems getting it delivered to an Irish address? It doesn't look set up to be delivered outside France..


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    #11
    addict
    Registered Users Posts: 47 ✭addict


    No problems getting delivered here


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    #12
    j_mo
    Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭j_mo


    Hiya guys,

    Looks like Joe mobile France isn't offering those deals any more. Has anyone got some good recommendations?


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    #13
    BenEadir
    Registered Users Posts: 4,539 ✭✭✭BenEadir


    j_mo wrote: »
    Hiya guys,

    Looks like Joe mobile France isn't offering those deals any more. Has anyone got some good recommendations?

    You might be able to get a Three UK sim, they have France as a "Feel at home" destination - http://www.three.co.uk/Support/Roaming_and_international/Mobile_Roaming?content_aid=1214306374696

    IIRC though you have to have the sim registered on the UK network at least three months before the EU roaming benefits kick in.


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    #14
    tinimc
    Registered Users Posts: 44 ✭tinimc


    Ben Eadir, i was just wondering about the Lebara sim cards. I'm heading to France next Saturday week and was just wondering if I ordered a sim from this company, what exactly do i need to do with my phone. Does it need to be 'unlocked' to use this sim card for the duration of the holiday. I would only be using it for internet and can use my husband's phone then for calls/texts as an emergency. I have never gotten a sim abroad before so not sure whats the procedure for this. Your advise would be appreciated.


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    #15
    keithclancy
    Registered Users Posts: 9,222 ✭✭✭keithclancy


    Most options and info is here:

    http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/France


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    #16
    54and56
    Registered Users Posts: 7,652 ✭✭✭54and56


    tinimc wrote: »
    Ben Eadir, i was just wondering about the Lebara sim cards. I'm heading to France next Saturday week and was just wondering if I ordered a sim from this company, what exactly do i need to do with my phone. Does it need to be 'unlocked' to use this sim card for the duration of the holiday. I would only be using it for internet and can use my husband's phone then for calls/texts as an emergency. I have never gotten a sim abroad before so not sure whats the procedure for this. Your advise would be appreciated.

    Hi Tinimc,

    I ordered one of these http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00BFQ3RXU?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00 and had it delivered FOC to Parcel Motel http://www.parcelmotel.com in Newry who then drop it off to my local pick up point for circa €4. Was delivered to me in about 4 days. (make sure you order the right size sim for your phone!!)

    Yes, you will need an unlocked phone and once at your destination you can insert the sim and see what sort of signal strength you have on the Orange network who are the Three.co.uk roaming partner in France. If it's good you can then use http://www.rechargemysim.de/epages/63245108.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectPath=%2FShops%2F63245108 to top up and you'll be good to go, you can even use the phone in Tethering mode to become a WiFi hotspot so you can connect your tablet, laptop, other phones etc to it for internet access.

    £10 gets you 1GB to use within the month and £25 gives you 7GB.

    Hope that helps.


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    #17
    TimHorton
    Registered Users Posts: 1,057 ✭✭✭TimHorton


    keithclancy wrote: »
    Most options and info is here:

    http://prepaid-data-sim-card.wikia.com/wiki/France

    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ABJ0WA8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

    This card is better for several reasons

    1. It comes preloaded with £15 and gives 25gb over the 30 days in a Feel At Home Destination
    2. It comes with adaptors and fits in any phone.
    3. It activates/configures automatically when you put in your phone in Ireland

    I have used 3 of these SIMS in the last 12 Months

    August 2014 - 2 Weeks in France - Perfect
    January 2015 - Florida for 10 days - Perfect
    July 2015 - 2 Weeks in Spain (Salou) - Perfect.


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    #18
    54and56
    Registered Users Posts: 7,652 ✭✭✭54and56


    TimHorton wrote: »
    http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B00ABJ0WA8?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_search_detailpage

    This card is better for several reasons

    1. It comes preloaded with £15 and gives 25gb over the 30 days in a Feel At Home Destination
    2. It comes with adaptors and fits in any phone.
    3. It activates/configures automatically when you put in your phone in Ireland

    I have used 3 of these SIMS in the last 12 Months

    August 2014 - 2 Weeks in France - Perfect
    January 2015 - Florida for 10 days - Perfect
    July 2015 - 2 Weeks in Spain (Salou) - Perfect.

    Hi Tim,

    They look brilliant. Will try one next time I'm away.


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    #19
    j_mo
    Registered Users Posts: 239 ✭✭j_mo


    Is that 3 offer still available. Heading away next year and it looks perfect.


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    #20
    eamonnq
    Registered Users Posts: 4,009 ✭✭✭eamonnq


    Am looking to get something like this, any updates on what is available ?


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