By 2030, the entire country is supposed to be covered by fiber, ensuring a more efficient internet network. However, since its deployment in the south of Val-d’Oise, users have suffered breakdown after breakdown.
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In Val-d’Oise, the optical fiber, which has been down for almost three weeks, is disrupting the ability of an IT worker to telework: “When I have to enter a teleconference with people from my work or intervene on a client’s server, I am not at all sure if I have a sufficient connection”he regrets.
An IT worker tests the internet connection on his computer
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© France 3 PIDF
A few kilometers further, in La Frette-sur-Seine (Val-d’Oise), Marie-Hélène Goix, president of a residents’ collective, carried out an investigation into the extent of the problem. According to her, the majority of households in Val-d’Oise are affected. A breakdown which can cause numerous risks, particularly for the elderly: “When there is a power outage, there is no longer any remote assistance, there is no longer any telephone and then, for those who are bedridden or who barely leave their homes, there is no longer any television, there is nothing left and it can last for months so there is a danger.”
Faced with this situation, residents and elected officials are stepping up to the front. Letters were sent to the constituency’s parliamentarians. Yannick Boëdec, president of the Val Parisis agglomeration and mayor (without label) of Cormeilles-en-Parisis even considered filing a complaint: “We have created an organization to regulate and control operators, I just ask that they do their job otherwise we will abolish ARCEP [Autorité de Régulation des Communications Electroniques, des Postes et de la distribution de la Presse. NDLR] and we find something else”.
The company managing the fiber optic cabinets ensures that it sends maintenance technicians as soon as an incident is reported; it rejects criticism of the subcontracting companies often used by all operators for interventions: “Today, subcontracting is essential, it simply has to be of quality. We have put in place training programs for all operators, certification programs”assures Jean-Claude Brier, XP Fiber regional delegate.
Jean-Claude Brier, XP Fiber regional delegate and a technician in front of a fiber cabinet
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© France 3 PIDF
In order to avoid uncontrolled connections and disconnections, a project to renew the oldest cabinets is underway.
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