How to manage without fiber optic.
brupala Posted messages 111959 Registration date Status Membre Last intervention -
Hello everyone,
Currently, I am accessing the Internet with my PC connected to a box.
I was informed that fiber optic is being installed in my hamlet and that as a result, I will no longer have the "copper connection" in 2026.
I am at the end of a line at the end of a dead-end road, 500 meters from the main road, and the last 100 meters are on my property.
To allow access to the copper cable and its replacement with fiber, work would need to be done at a cost of over €10,000.
At 87 years old, and using the Internet minimally – receiving and sending emails – some research - no games or videos - I am looking for a solution to access the Internet without having fiber.
I am particularly thinking about sharing a mobile phone connection, or better yet a smartphone, with the PC, but there may be other solutions?
This leads me to ask a few questions.
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In the past, it was possible to connect a phone to a PC using a USB cable. Is this capability still available, especially with a smartphone? This would be the simplest solution for me.
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What basic smartphones would be suitable?
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I would be happy to receive advice and opinions from people more knowledgeable than I am in computing.
Thank you for your help.
5 réponses
Hello,
Tethering from a mobile phone to a PC is a tried-and-true solution. That's what I've been using for the past two months while living in a small house in the countryside, with no landline or fiber.
Most mobile phones can do this. Do you have one, which one?
We don't use a wired connection between the phone and the PC much anymore. The connection is wireless. On the phone, you activate mobile network sharing which creates a wifi network. The PC typically connects to this wifi network to access the internet.
The mobile coverage at your place should be decent. Your mobile plan should include a sufficient data allowance. This will depend on your usage, which seems straightforward.
Another solution is a 4G/5G box, which also uses a SIM card and the mobile phone network. With some providers, this option can be reserved for locations without landline or fiber.
There's also internet subscription via satellite with a reception antenna, similar to satellite TV.
Thank you for these answers. They confirm to me that the tethering solution is suitable for my particular case.
For now, I don't have a smartphone. I'm looking for a simple-to-use device that will be used almost exclusively to connect the PC to the Internet and make phone calls.
What do you recommend?
I advise you to choose a basic model; it is pointless to have a high-end smartphone. Take the device offered to you with the best plan. It's especially the internet plan that is important for connecting with your PC.
Limited budget: RED by SFR 160 Go 5G at €8.99/month or Coriolis 200 Go 4G at €8.99/month offer excellent value for money.
Best network quality: If you prioritize network quality (especially in 5G), Orange 170 Go 5G at €22.99.
Hello,
To meet your need to access the Internet without fiber optic, given your situation (light Internet usage, high cost of fiber installation, age, and preference for a simple solution), sharing a connection via a smartphone is a perfectly viable option and probably the most suitable one.
Advantages:
No need for costly fiber installation work.
Immediate use with a compatible smartphone and an appropriate mobile plan.
The USB connection charges the smartphone, avoiding battery issues.
4G (or 5G if available) can provide sufficient bandwidth for your needs (emails and research).
Disadvantages:
Depends on mobile coverage in your area. Check the quality of the 4G/5G network at your location (you can consult the coverage maps from operators like Orange, SFR, Bouygues, or Free).
Consumes mobile data, which requires an appropriate plan (see point 3).
The speeds of 4G/5G are generally lower than fiber, but are more than enough for your usage.
Other possible solutions:
4G/5G router: A mobile router creates a Wi-Fi network from a SIM card. It is more suitable for multi-device usage, but it is more expensive (€100 to €200) and less necessary for light individual usage.
Satellite connection (e.g., Starlink): A satellite connection can be an option, but it is costly (installation ~€400, subscription ~€40/month) and oversized for your needs.
What mobile plan to choose?
For tethering, you need a mobile plan with a suitable data allowance. Since your usage is light (emails and research), a plan with 5 to 20 GB of data per month should be sufficient.
Hello
Given that it is the historical operator who is replacing ITS copper cables with fiber; you only need to take care of the part concerning YOUR property
That said; digging a trench 50 cm deep over 100 meters and laying a duct with a pull wire of 20 mm shouldn't cost 10 K€
You should be able to find a self-employed worker who can do this job for a few hundred euros
A buried duct is not 20 but at least 50 mm: https://nathd.fr/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/FICHE-ADDUCTION-NATHD.pdf
Rather, there is certainly already an aerial or underground path for the telephone line; the fiber will use the same if possible.
If the copper line belongs to Orange, this is not necessarily the case for the fiber, as it is rarely an infrastructure operator in rural areas.
If the PBO is 500m away, that is a problem, but well, that's not the issue.
It seems to me that you don't have all the elements, for example, is the dead end private (condominium) or public, is the connection buried or on poles?
But once again, that's not the question here, it seems, for the diameter I have this as well: inside more than 25 and outside less than 45 ...
Fiber does not replace copper !!
Fiber has been deployed in parallel with the ancient copper by infrastructure operators, which can be Orange or quite a few others, complete list in there.
Copper will be dismantled later between 2026 and 2030, it has started in some places, but Orange is not replacing anything it dismantles.
Hello,
all smartphones allow mobile tethering via USB, but it's often simpler over Wi-Fi.
If the mobile network is too weak, you can also invest in a 4G router with an external antenna and connect via Ethernet to it.
If the operator refuses to provide a 4G box, claiming that the address is eligible for fiber, you can still buy an independent router from the operator and a SIM card of your choice.
Furthermore, operator-independent boxes often allow for an external antenna, which can be quite useful in many cases.