Orange leads in fiber internet speeds

According to the 2026 ranking by Zone ADSL&Fibre, published on October 15, Orange has become the top provider in fiber optic internet speeds, surpassing Bouygues Telecom based on 458,295 speed tests conducted over the year.

Orange's download speeds outpace SFR

Orange's average download speed is nearly 100 Mb/s higher than SFR, though Bouygues Telecom still holds the top position for upload speeds. Free, which was first in the same ranking last year, has dropped to third place, while SFR is last.

Orange's significant improvement

Orange, which was previously last in the same ranking in 2025, saw its average download speed increase from 407 Mb/s to nearly 543 Mb/s in one year, an improvement of about 136 Mb/s. Free had more than 120 Mb/s of an advantage over its closest competitor last year.

Market trends and competition

This reversal has been observed for several months by the comparator DegroupTest, which publishes monthly benchmarks, unlike Zone ADSL&Fibre and nPerf, which publish annual benchmarks. Orange has experienced a resurgence since the beginning of the year and is also first in upload speeds according to the second comparator.

SFR's performance lags

The competition is strong on performance, with several operators vying for dominance. Only SFR, which is in the process of being sold, stands out, but in a negative way. Of the four ISPs, it is the only one to show an average download speed below 500 Mb/s and 400 Mb/s for average upload speed.

Advancements in fiber technology

The generalization of very high-speed offers and new technologies has allowed the competitors to close their gap, making the market more competitive than ever. Orange is the most striking example: the operator offers up to 2 Gb/s from the entry-level range and up to 8 Gb/s symmetric from the mid-range, a unique position on the market.

Infrastructure improvements

According to Zone ADSL&Fibre, the overall improvement in the fiber network in 2026 includes a 12% increase in average download speeds and 15% in upload speeds. Over two years, the increase reaches 31%. This progress is attributed to the evolution of infrastructure and internet boxes.

Future rankings uncertain

Each of the four operators now offers a symmetric 8 Gb/s box and Wi-Fi 7, sometimes for an accessible entry price. It remains to be seen if the next nPerf ranking, expected at the beginning of 2027, confirms this new hierarchy.