France's official maps display a green network symbolizing rural areas connected to high-speed internet, but many residents still lack access, as new infrastructure fails to reach their homes. Despite the country's efforts to expand digital coverage, nearly 2.3 million homes remain unconnected as of the end of March 2026, mostly in rural regions and areas managed by public initiative networks. The France Very High-Speed Broadband Plan, launched to ensure every home has access to high-speed internet, has not yet met its initial goal of complete coverage, set for the end of 2025. While coverage statistics suggest progress, they often mask the reality that many homes, even in areas marked as connected, are not actually able to use the service due to technical challenges. One of the main issues is the failure of fiber connections, with an average of one in sixteen connections failing. These failures are often due to blocked conduits or inaccessible telecom manholes—underground infrastructure that was not always designed to accommodate fiber optic cables. The problem is particularly pronounced in rural areas where historical telephone networks were not built with future fiber connections in mind. In these regions, the last segment of the network, from a central point to individual homes, is often neglected, leading to delays and technical difficulties. To address this, an experimental state program was launched in March 2026, offering up to 1,200 euros to cover the costs of work when existing infrastructure prevents the cable from reaching a home. This support is especially important in rural areas and older buildings where trenching and other physical work are needed. Until now, these costs were often borne by individuals or ignored, resulting in many cables stopping abruptly at the edge of villages. This situation has highlighted a growing digital divide, not only between rural and urban areas, but also within officially connected regions where some homes remain without functional internet access. The challenges are not limited to rural areas. Since 2021, there has been a decline in operator investments in densely populated areas, suggesting that deployment difficulties are more widespread than previously thought. The fiber optic network, once seen as an almost completed project, now reveals a fragmented landscape where the boundary between connected and non-connected areas is determined not by administrative lines, but by mundane obstacles like blocked conduits or hidden telecom manholes. This disparity underscores the gap between ambitious national plans and their practical implementation, leaving many households waiting for years for a simple internet connection. Whether the new assistance program will bridge this "last kilometer" remains to be seen.