Once upon a time, about three years ago, nobody in France knew what "http://" and "WWW" meant. Now Web site addresses are on everything from CDs to Snickers bars, urging your average Internet-ready citizen to surf on down. Yet this bombardment of cyber-chic belies a serious retardwhich sees France still trying to shake off the legacy of the Minitel years. According to a recent survey, only 2 percent of French homes were connected to the Internet in 1998. Scandinavian countries are way ahead, with Finland scoring 24% and Sweden 14%. Britain, with the same population as France, has twice as many netsurfers, at around 5 million. When the Minitel was introduced in 1983 it caused a revolution. Suddenly, anyone with a telephone could access vast amounts of information, book holidays, check bank balances and look for jobs. Soon everyone had their own terminal, and their enthusiasm was mixed with pride, knowing the technology was homegrown and world-beating. Now the Minitel has been leap-frogged by the Internet, and in comparison to shockwaved and audio-streamed Web pages, the French system seems archaic. But it's familiar and entrenched. From the famous Moulin Rougeto the infamous Minitel Rose, it's all there, and in French, every last word of it. With the preponderance of English on the Net, at around 88%, it is easy to understand the reluctance to switch. Prime Minister Lionel Jospin openly acknowledges the problem. "With the Internet, I am in the same situation as France," he says, "catching up." Jospin has committed his government to facilitating Internet access for all. The Fête de l'InternetMar 19-21, is a Ministère de la Cultureeffort to raise Internet awareness. Paris-based events include electing a virtual government, driving a train through cyberland, on-line voting in song, writing, poetry and art competitions, talking live to volunteers from Médecins Sans Frontièresin Uganda, Madagascar, Laos, Guatemala and Armenia, and, of course, simply learning how to use the Internet. Find out more from L'Association pour la Fête de l'Internet (AFI), 29, rue Lap érouse, 8e. President Chirac is resolutely bullish. Speaking in 1997, he said: "Don't believe that here in France we are still behind. On the contrary! Thanks to the Minitel, we have the most advanced keyboard culture in the world. An Aubervilliers baker knows exactly how to contact his bank by Minitel. A New York baker is completely incapable." Teaching young people to use the Internet is being given high priority through initiatives like the Netd@yprojects, and the president wants to see all secondary schools connected to the Internet by the year 2000. Similarly, the Espaces Cyber-Jeunes, which he inaugurated, put computers at the disposition of teenagers hoping to find jobs or accommodation through the Net. As Internet frenzy takes hold, figures are looking very positive. Projections based on current growth suggest that by the year 2002 the number of users will be approaching 10 million, more than four times what they are today. Computer prices have been plummeting too, and last Christmas powerful machines capable of accessing the Net for less than 5000F were available at many supermarkets like Auchanand Carrefour. This can only speed up the adoption of the global network and eventual demise of the Minitel. One of the biggest problems was the lack of information in French. Now excellent new sites are appearing every day, and French language directories and search engines such as Yahoo!, Alta Vistaand Nomadeare providing French-speakers with the tools they need to get started without a hassle. Growing pains are inevitable as the industry finds its feet and already French internautsare looking enviously across the Atlantic to the land of the free local call. "The connection charge per hour in Europe is too expensive," claim the creators of Adim, the Association of Dissatisfied Netsurfers, who hope to unite the users and force service providers and phone companies to lower their rates. "We are therefore asking for special Internet access charges to be established, at 0.1 euros per hour or a flat fee of 200F a month." France Telecom, both supplier of bandwidth and access provider through Wanadoo, argues that high research and development costs prevent them from lowering tariffs further. Adim wasn't impressed, and the first Internet strike was staged in November of last year. According to service provider WorldNET, 50% of their clients were 'absent' on strike day. The 200F flat fee seems unlikely in the short term, but perhaps if Jospin and Chirac get tired of staying up all night just to benefit from the reduced rates, we may witness a French Internet Revolution. Sab Will t eaches English and trains people to use the Internet. His Web site for teachers, The TEFL Farm, is at: http://www.teflfarm.com, (email: sab@teflfarm.com ) and the address of la Fête de l'Internet's Web site is http://www.fete-internet.asso.fr/index.asp |
