The French government has paused the Cohésion numérique des territoires program, which offers financial support to households that do not have access to fiber-optic internet. This initiative is part of a larger national plan launched in 2013 to ensure that all areas of France have high-speed internet by 2025. According to data from June 2026 provided by Arcep, France’s communications regulatory authority, about 2 million of the 45.2 million homes in the country still lack fiber-optic connections. The National Agency for Cohesion (ANCT), which manages the program, announced the suspension after reviewing how much of the budget had already been used compared to what was expected to be spent by internet service providers. This means there is currently no funding available to accept new applications for the program. While the suspension might be temporary, it could also signal a long-term reduction in funding for the initiative. The program allowed households without fiber-optic internet to receive subsidies for alternative solutions, such as satellite internet or 4G/5G devices. These subsidies were applied directly to the users’ bills. The main subsidy offers a 300-euro reduction with the chosen internet service provider. For low-income households that qualify for one of ten specific social benefits, or those with a monthly family income below 700 euros as calculated by the CAF or MSA, the subsidy increases to 600 euros. In overseas territories, a different level of support is available for households that meet the "Bon Haut Débit" criteria, offering a 150-euro subsidy. The suspension of the program has raised concerns about the progress of internet access in rural and less developed areas of France, where fiber-optic coverage remains limited.