The growth of the internet in France is being hindered by a combination of high hardware and software costs and the use of its own proprietary online Minitel system, according to the European Commission. Earlier in the year, French prime minister Lionel Jospin said at Comdex that he wanted France to take a lead in internet development (CI No 3,342). This goal looks more feasible now, and as expected (CI No 3,233) France Telecom, the provider of Minitel, plans to port the Minitel system on to the web using a set-top box manufactured by internet Television company Com l. Some 9.8% of the population use the Internet in France, a figure that is substantially lower than those who use Minitel. Minitel’s 21 services are delivered to consumers via a computerized telephone system, which operates at a profit. In the past consumers have been swayed towards sticking with Minitel and avoiding the internet because of the cost of computer equipment in France. European Commission spokesperson Martine Cauvin, speaking to TechWeb, says it costs at least $2,000 to purchase a personal computer with a CD-ROM drive, which has deterred the French from getting hooked up.
