The Que Choisir Ensemble association has drawn up a comparison of Internet access providers. We now know the best, and above all… the worst.
Some have been loyal to the same Internet service provider for years, regardless of possible moves or the arrival of new technologies, while others change their Wi-Fi subscription like shirts, always hoping to find a better offer from the competition. And the fact is, not everyone is equal. From Orange to Free, including Bouygues Télécom and SFR, the magazine Que Choisir Ensemble has produced a ranking of the different operators to evaluate the best. And the worst.
Reliability of service, customer satisfaction, quality of assistance or even honesty of contracts… LThe consumer association (formerly UFC-Que Choisir) took several criteria into account to establish its comparison. Thanks to a survey carried out with more than 7 000 customers, as well as the help of their lawyers, the Que Choisir Ensemble teams analyzed both the technical quality of the networks, the number of disputes, the general conditions of sale, the extent of the offer and the access terms of each supplier. And it is Orange which comes in first place on the podium, with an overall score of 14.2 out of 20.
Despite “unfavorable value for money” because of offers “a little more expensive than average”Orange retains more customers than its competitors and displays “good performance, whether in terms of the quality of its network or the overall satisfaction of its subscribers”. And above all, its rating is very much above the last one on the list: it is SFR which appears to be the worst Internet access provider.
For several years now, SFR has ranked dead last in the panel, this time with an unenviable score of 10.7 out of 20. The fault “low satisfaction, a quality/price ratio perceived as average and contracts including clauses that are not very favorable to consumers”. But our colleagues point out that the supplier offers a wide range of subscriptions, and especially makes up for it with its low-cost brand Red by SFR, “whose satisfaction is better than that of its parent company”. In fact, the subsidiary ranks fourth on the list, with an overall score of 12.1 out of 20, which it owes to its “rather decent flow rates”to “Limited disputes given the number of subscribers” and at a quality/price ratio “pretty good”.
Concerning the rest of the ranking, which includes six Internet service providers in total, it is Free which is placed in second position with 13.9 out of 20. Then follow Sosh (brand belonging to Orange) with a score of 13.5 out of 20, then Red by SFR, and finally Bouygues Télécom, which comes penultimate with a score of 11.7 out of 20.
As you will have understood, each supplier has its advantages and disadvantages. If price remains a strong argument, Orange’s reputation and Free’s excellent value for money prove that a good subscription is not just about gigabytes. For those disappointed with SFR or Bouygues, salvation perhaps lies in the low-cost brands that are doing well. One thing is certain: before committing, read the fine print of the contract carefully to avoid unpleasant surprises the next time you change boxes.
