The French regulator has developed a detailed database, other regulators may follow
A detailed tool for consumers and local authorities: The French regulator ARCEP has launched a complete version of its broadband mapping tool, ‘My internet connection’ (“Ma connexion internet” in French) which had been in beta for some time. The tool promises a high level of accuracy, with data about broadband connectivity for individual addresses. ARCEP believes this tool will serve both individual consumers and local authorities, which may use it to define and update their digital strategies.
How it works: For a given address, users can identify all the operators available, all the fixed technologies they chose from (e.g. DSL, cable, fibre), and the maximum upload and download speeds for each technology and operator. This also includes satellite and local operators. Information can be downloaded in Open Data format at department-level. The data is ‘declarative’ (i.e. comes from operators’ own deployment information) and is supplemented by data on local properties and by France’s national address database.
Obtaining updated information remains a challenge: The tool currently displays data about broadband availability as of 30 September 2020, which means that while the information presented is very granular, it may not be up to date. This is a criticism that has sometimes been moved to regulators’ mapping efforts (e.g. Ofcom is criticised by UK operators for portraying an outdated picture of broadband coverage in its reports). ARCEP is aware of this and has committed to achieve a quarterly update by the end of this year. ARCEP’s tool also displays information on current and prospective fibre deployment, building on its existing ‘fibre map’, which should go some way towards addressing the need for end users to know whether they can expect gigabit-capable broadband anytime soon. It is obviously not a perfect tool, but one that might inspire other regulators currently grappling with the broadband mapping issue, such as the FCC in the US.
