TY - JOUR AB - Purpose–The paper aims to show how the introduction of the concept of universal service in the French telecommunications sector was impacted by the existence of a strong national tradition of public services. It also aims to show that universal service, as it is defined by the European telecom regulatory framework, was not the only possible set‐up. It also seeks to show how the concept of universal service was adapted to the French national situation and spread beyond the telecommunications sector.Design/methodology/approach–The approach of the paper is chronological, starting with an analysis of the French tradition of public services and then showing how the discussion developed in France on the topic of universal service in the telecommunications sector. Then the paper deals with the practical implementation of universal service in the telecommunications sector and other sectors in France.Findings–The paper shows that even though the French traditional views on public services did not make it easy to implement the European version of universal service in the telecommunications sector, it nevertheless happened. Universal service even spread beyond the telecommunications sector in France.Research limitations/implications–The paper concentrates on French views on the topic and does not study the opinions of other stakeholders (the European Commission, other member states) as regards the French national tradition of public services.Practical implications–The paper can be used as a guide to ongoing discussions on the evolution of universal service in Europe as it provides alternate views on the topic.Originality/value–The paper provides a comprehesive review of the topic. VL - 10 IS - 5/6 SN - 1463-6697 DO - 10.1108/14636690810904760 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/14636690810904760 AU - Berne Michel ED - Claudio Feijoo ED - Claire Milne PY - 2008 Y1 - 2008/01/01 TI - Telecommunications universal service in France T2 - info PB - Emerald Group Publishing Limited SP - 121 EP - 137 Y2 - 2024/04/23 ER -