The State promises aid of 300 euros to access wireless broadband

Europe 1 with AFP 7:16 p.m., February 05, 2022

State aid for individuals who do not have a sufficient internet connection, particularly in rural areas, will increase from 150 to 300 euros, in order to allow better access to wireless broadband, the Prime Minister announced on Saturday. John Castex.

The "digital cohesion of territories" scheme, launched in 2018, enabled households and businesses not covered by wired networks to switch to wireless broadband, thanks to aid for the cost of equipment, installation or in service up to 150 euros.

“300 euros, even 600 euros”

"The observation is that this amount is not sufficient to allow people to equip themselves. We therefore decided to go to 300 euros, even 600 euros", according to criteria of resources, said Jean Castex during a trip to Ariège alongside the Secretary of State for Digital Cédric O. This system will come into force in April, indicated the Prime Minister, after a visit to a fiber deployment site, in Moulin- Neuf, northeast of Foix.

It is part of the "France Very High Speed" plan, which aims to cover the entire territory with very high speed (over 30 Mbits/s) by the end of 2022. The UFC-Que Choisir association pointed out in a study published at the end of January that despite the 4G mobile network, 32% of consumers in rural areas are deprived of "good broadband", namely an internet connection with a speed greater than 8 Mbits/s.

A development protocol for the RN20 with the Occitanie region and the department of Ariège

Later in the morning, Jean Castex signed a protocol for the development of the RN20 with the Occitanie region and the department of Ariège, reaffirming the State's desire to commit to financing the road bypass of Tarascon- sur-Ariege. "In the continuity of the itinerary protocol on the RN20 in Ariège signed on March 22, 2017, this new protocol records the funding necessary for the realization of several developments, including the deviation of Tarascon-sur-Ariège by the Quié tunnel", according to a press release.

Because in the meantime the cost of the work has gone from 120 to 194 million euros, in particular because of the technical choices for the construction of the tunnel.

It will be financed 60% by the State, 20% by the Occitanie region and 20% by the department of Ariège.

This axis of the RN20, departing from Pamiers, is "particularly strategic" since it notably allows access to Andorra, whose head of government Xavier Espot Zamora was present on Saturday in Tarascon-sur-Ariège.

Work should begin "at the end of 2024, beginning of 2025", according to the Prime Minister.