Digital Infrastructure

Digital networks become as critical as physical infrastructure:

Fiber Optic Rollout

France leads European fiber deployment: - 30 million premises connectable by 2023 - €25 billion public-private investment - Rural coverage through subsidized deployment - Competition driving service innovation

Economic Impacts: - Remote work enablement - Digital service development - E-commerce growth - Educational access

Sophie Chen, working remotely from rural Auvergne, describes transformation:

"Five years ago, we had barely functional ADSL. Now with fiber, I run my consulting business from a renovated farmhouse. It's changing rural demographics as city people relocate."

Data Centers

Digital economy requires physical infrastructure: - 250+ data centers concentrated around Paris - Energy consumption concerns (3% of national electricity) - Cooling requirements driving location decisions - Sovereignty concerns about foreign-owned facilities

5G Deployment

Mobile infrastructure evolution continues: - 30,000 5G sites operational - €3 billion annual operator investment - Use cases beyond consumer mobile - Industrial applications in manufacturing and logistics