Wi-Fi connections in Cannes

It's almost unthinkable to be in Cannes for a few days and not have access to your e-mails. Midem obviously has Internet connections for visitors, although you usually have to stand in a queue. If you want a more accessible connection, you should think about taking a WiFi subscription. SFR is the supplier within the Palais, but I've had no luck finding out how much it costs. The site simply says that you turn your computer on, find the network and follow the payment process (without actually giving a price). The SFR site provides no details. The hotels obviously also have connections you can use. But if you're staying outside town, that doesn't help much during the day.

Amongst the prepaid solutions, the easiest one I could find information about is Orange. They offer 1, 3, 10 and 30 hour packages you can buy in Relay newsagents or online from the Orange site (in French but quite clear). I'll probably opt for the 3-hour option for €10 (with 50% extra for €1 if you purchase before January 15), which should be enough to grab e-mails, work offline and then send them out afterwards. If you have experience using other prepaid WiFi solutions in France, why not drop a line about it in the comments?

Mobile phones in Cannes: when will prices drop?

Much has been made of the new (lower!) roaming charges that the European Commission has forced operators to apply across Europe. Needless to say, you don't have to be European to benefit from them. I've often recommended buying a local SIM card if you are staying any time in Cannes as lots of calls you will make are made to French numbers. So there are considerable savings to be made.

As lots of people attending Cannes are from European countries, the new charges will benefit anyone with a European number of SIM card.

The European Commission has set up a page to explain about the new tariffs and what we must do to benefit from them. The lists are not 100% up to date (and I'm sure they will change over time), but the site does already explain quite a lot.

Check it here.

Will my phone work at Cannes?

This must be one the most-frequently asked questions that we hear about Cannes. The answer is simple: maybe! To simplify the debate, you should know that just about all of Europe works on 900 and 1800 frequencies. If your phone works on either (or hopefully both), then you're OK. If not, you'll have to buy or rent one locally. This is not a major cost these days.

Then there is the more complicated issue of cost. Although local calls are relatively cheap in Europe, international roaming calls can be very expensive - particularly if you intend to use the phone a lot. Remember that if you are using your non-French phone number in Cannes, every call is an international call. Even when you ring a restaurant in Cannes. You will also find yourself calling people on German, British and Spainsh numbers. Plus, ALL incoming calls will cost you money. So it might be worth picking up a French pre-paid card and number. If possible, ask someone local to buy one beforehand. That way you can send this number to your contacts before you hit town. Another advantage with a local number is that your calls will have priority if there's a bottleneck. This is not something I've really experienced, however.

To find a list of pre-paid providers, click over to PrePaid GSM. One other thing you should bear in mind is the validity of the card after you stop using it. If you only come once a year, you can go for a short validity. If you attend any other events such as MIPTV, MIPCOM or MIDEM, you might want to keep a card with a longer shelflife. That way you can at least keep the same number for every time you are in France. The cards with the longest validity are currently Omer Telecom, Virgin and NRJ Mobile. The three biggest players, Bouygues, SFR and Orange, have shorter validities.

Other services you might consider: Fonquest and TravelSIMshop

If you are just dropping down for a day or two, I don't think it's worth the hassle. Stick with your usual number and just foot the bill.