Goodbye to the first year of promotion. Bouygues Telecom now limits its discounts to six months, like Orange and SFR. The operator is taking the opportunity to increase the price of some of its packages.
If you are waiting for Christmas promotions to change your Internet box, Bouygues Telecom’s latest decision may disappoint you.
As first noticed Tiino-X83 on Twitter, the operator has reduced the promotion periods for its Internet boxes from 12 months to 6 months, after having already done so for its mobile offers in October. Worse, all prices increase after the discount period. A decision which confirms that the world of telecoms is restructuring to increase its profitability, since all operators have raised their prices recently – with the exception of Free, which could announce a Freebox V9 in December.
ADSL prices are soaring
All Bouygues offers have seen significant price increases, but the harshest concern ADSL.
On the fiber side, which Bouygues logically puts on its site, the increases are of the order of 2 euros per month, with promotions twice as short, which mathematically increases the bill. Over 12 months, the difference is enormous (more than 200 euros in some cases). Over 24 months, the gap widens slightly, since it is necessary to add the additional 1-2 euros per month to that previously consulted.
| Model | Previous price | Price today | Total over 12 months before | Total for 12 months today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bbox Fit | 17.99 euros per month for 12 months, then 31.99 euros per month | 18.99 euros per month for 6 months, then 32.99 euros per month | 215.88 euros | 311.88 euros |
| Bbox Must | 26.99 euros per month for 12 months, then 41.99 euros per month | 26.99 euros per month for 6 months, then 42.99 euros per month | 323.88 euros | 419.88 euros |
| Bbox Ultym | 32.99 euros per month for 12 months, then 50.99 euros per month | 32.99 euros per month for 6 months, then 52.99 euros per month | 395.88 euros | 635.88 euros |
The most intriguing concerns ADSL, which Bouygues apparently wants to kill. To make it less competitive, the operator radically increases prices. For our calculations, we took the example of an extended ADSL zone, the one that costs the most. We can imagine that those covered by Bouygues itself are also covered by fiber:
| Model | Previous price | Price today | Total over 12 months before | Total for 12 months today |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bbox Fit | 17.99 euros per month for 12 months, then 35.99 euros per month | 18.99 euros per month for 6 months, then 40.99 euros per month | 215.88 euros | 359.88 euros |
| Bbox Must | 26.99 euros per month for 12 months, then 45.99 euros per month | 26.99 euros per month for 6 months, then 50.99 euros per month | 323.88 euros | 467.88 euros |
| Bbox Ultym | 32.99 euros per month for 12 months, then 49.99 euros per month | 32.99 euros per month for 6 months, then 60.99 euros per month | 395.88 euros | 563.88 euros |
With monthly differences of 11 euros in the worst case, the Bouygyes ADSL bill can quickly reach new heights. It is better to favor fiber or another operator in the event of ineligibility.
Package prices are soaring in France
In one year, the prices of Internet boxes in France have increased by 12.8%. Ariase is at the origin of this comparison which proves that operators are taking advantage of inflation after having already increased the prices of certain packages at the start of the year, to significantly change the Internet/mobile market.
Will this trend continue in 2024? Black Friday and Christmas promotions will be scrutinized at the end of the year, in order to see what the operators’ true capacity for flexibility is. The next Freebox, if it really arrives soon, should also tell us more about Free’s desire. Will he follow? Or will he present himself as a knight against rising prices?
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