Mobile network coverage in France

4G cover

Best 5G package: our comparison to choose the right operator and subscription

(MAJ on 04/20/2023) The deployment of 5G in France is only in its beginnings. Compatible smartphones have been available since late 2019 and the four SFR operators, Bouygues Telecom, Orange and Free Mobile have activated their respective network some time after. To take advantage of this promising technology (faster flows and lower latency), you must subscribe to a 5G package. Consult our guide to find the subscription that meets all your expectations.

Posted on 01/28/2021 at 10:22

Updated article April 20, 2023. The best entry ticket for 5G is still at NRJ Mobile. If the offer of Cdiscount Mobile was identical a few days ago, it now includes fewer gigas for Europe and the DOM. More interesting than the 5G offers of its competitors, especially for use abroad, that of Bouygues Telecom remains the best premium formula in our eyes. We have also updated the price of the various subscriptions. We note in particular the appearance of a 5G option for all the packages of B & You.

Bouygues Telecom was the first operator to launch 5G packages by drawing offers from June 2020. Competition waited for the end of that same year to market its subscriptions: October for Orange, November for SFR and December for Free Mobile. Red and B & You, the “Low-Cost” subsidiaries of SFR and Bouygues, also offer more accessible 5G packages as are MVNO (Virtual Mobile Network Operator) NRJ Mobile, Cdiscount Mobile or Pricetel. Sosh could soon join them.

Which 5g package to choose ? our selection

Our comparison is up to date on April 20, 2023 and will be updated if new offers appear or if the current offers evolve.

1. The best entry ticket for 5G: 150 GB Mobile NRJ package at € 12.99

The MVNO (virtual mobile network operator) has drawn a particularly attractive promo: 150 GB for € 12.99 per month. The subscription without commitment also turns out to be attractive enough for travelers since it grants them 21 GB to sail from the European Union and the DOM. Calls, SMS and MMS are unlimited in France as well as from the areas cited earlier. Note that NRJ Mobile takes the Bouygues Telecom network.

2. The best coverage and the best for the international: Free 5G package at € 19.99

As usual, Free Mobile was the first to break prices with an international 5G package billed less than € 20 per month. The offer incorporates unlimited calls, SMS and MMS to several countries (USA, Canada, China, Australia, South Africa, Israel, New Zealand) as well as 25 GB (in 4G) from more than 70 destinations. The envelope for metropolitan France has 210 GB of data for non-bone freebox but if you are it will be unlimited data. Free Mobile’s 5G compatible package also includes access to the Free Ligue 1 app. All for 19.99 euros per month (15.99 euros for Freebox subscribers and 9.99 euros for Freebox Pop subscribers) as its previous offer which was then 4G compatible. And without commitment !

Recall that Free Mobile has the largest 5G network with 15,242 700 MHz/3.5 GHz sites (including 3,680 3.5 GHz sites) in Metropolitan France on September 30, 2022 according to Arcep.

3. The best value for money for box subscribers: Bouygues Telecom 100 GB package at € 10.99

Bouygues Telecom has recently seen its formulas and its entry ticket to 5G is undoubtedly the most interesting for boxes boxes. Count 10.99 € per month per first year then € 25.99 for a plan counting 100 GB of data, including 50 GB for Europe and the DOM. The subscription also includes unlimited calls and SMS in France and from Europe, the DOM, Andorra and Switzerland.

4. All-inclusive: Bouygues Telecom Package 240 GB 5G at € 54.99

Bouygues’ 5G package is the most complete with its 240 GB usable from mainland France and 130 GB for foreigners (Europe, DOM, United States, Canada, China, Israel, Russia, etc.), its calls, SMS and MMS unlimited from France to the fixed and mobiles of mainland France, Europe, DOM, USA, Canada, China and many other destinations as well as its unlimited calls, SMS and MMS in France and since Europe, the French overseas departments, Andorra, Switzerland, the United States and Canada. The subscription increases to € 64.99 per month after the first year of subscription.

All operator operator offers

1. Chez Bouygues Telecom

If you want to buy a subsidized smartphone, Bouygues Telecom aligns 5G packages with 24 -month commitment that allow you to spread the payment of your new phone.

In the event that you already have a 5G smartphone, the operator also offers the same formulas but with a 12 -month commitment. Box customers benefit from a discount on each formula.

What we like:

• Generous in data for metropolitan France (from 100 to 240 GB) and for foreigners (from 50 to 130 GB)
• Second 3G/4G Internet SIM card offered from the 130 GB package
• A great price for box customers

What we don’t like:

• The price that climbs after a year
• Commitment for one year (without smartphone) or two years (with smartphone)

2. At B & You

All B & YOU offers are eligible for 5G but to take advantage of the operator invoices you the option 3 € per month.

What we like:

• A very beautiful envelope for France on the last two formulas
• A price that does not double after a year
• No engagement

What we don’t like:

• Financially not attractive offers once the option includes

3. Chez SFR

The operator with a red square has 3 5G packages without obligation. The entry ticket is set at € 20.99 per month for one year (€ 14.99 for boxes) for 140 GB. Offers to favor if you are used to communicating abroad.

What we like:

• A comfortable envelope for metropolitan France (from 140 GB to 220 GB) and for foreigners (100 GB)
• A very attractive price for box customers
• No commitment to the entry ticket

What we don’t like:

• The price that increases after a year

4. At Red

Unlike B & You, Red records two 5G (without commitment) compatible packages with 100 and 200 GB for Metropolitan France.

What we like:

• A very beautiful envelope for France
• A price that does not double after a year
• No engagement

What we don’t like:

• “Only” 19 or 24 GB for the foreigner

5. At Orange

Historical operator’s formulas align many arguments for datavores as well as travelers. The entry ticket with 100 GB and the subscription with 170 GB impose no commitment unlike the other two more expensive offers.

What we like:

• A superb envelope for metropolitan France (from 100 GB to 240 GB) and for foreigners (from 100 to 140 GB)
• Switzerland and Andorra included in communications from the basic formula
• A very engaging price for box customers
• Additional sim cards on request for a tablet, an airbox or a second phone
• Without engagement

What we don’t like:

• The price that increases after a year

For the moment, Sosh has no 5G offers.

6. At Free Mobile

Xavier Niel’s operator presents a formula on his site with 210 GB if you are not a freebox subscriber or unlimited data if not otherwise. These proposals are still as interesting for international use.

What we like:

• 210 GB or unlimited data for mainland France, including 25 GB for foreigners
• Many international destinations included
• An unbeatable price (especially for Freebox Pop subscribers) which does not double after a year
• Without engagement
• Free holds the most 5G sites in mainland France with 15,242 sites 700 MHz/3.5 GHz (including 3,680 3.5 GHz sites) on September 30, 2022 according to Arcep

What we don’t like:

• Free has chosen to recycle mainly the 700-800 MHz bands

7. And among MVNOs ?

Prixtel, NRJ Mobile, Cdiscount Mobile and La Poste Mobile also have 5G offers.

Pricetel:

The Le Géant formula, availability from € 15.99 per month, evolves in stages. The 5G option is billed at you € 5 which brings the bill to € 20.99.

What we like:

• Up to 210 GB for mainland France, including 25 GB for foreigners from the basic formula
• Without engagement

What we don’t like:

• “Only” 25 GB for foreigners

NRJ Mobile:

The MVNO offers an offer without obligation and without limit of duration. It includes an envelope of 150 GB for € 12.99 per month.

What we like:

• A very beautiful envelope for France (150 GB)
• A price that does not double after a year
• No engagement

What we don’t like:

• “Only” 21 GB for foreigners

Cdiscount Mobile:

The 5G package of Cdiscount Mobile is almost the same as that of NRJ Mobile but it is less advantageous for foreigners.

What we like:

• A very beautiful envelope for France (150 GB)
• A price that does not double after a year
• No engagement

What we don’t like:

• “Only” 19 GB for foreigners

Mobile Post:

The operator invoices 5 € per 5G option on its 60 GB and 120 GB packages at € 10.99 and € 14.99 per month.

What we like:

• A comfortable envelope for France
• A price that does not double after a year

What we don’t like:

• “Only” 12 and 20 GB for the foreigner

5G, what is it ?

The fifth generation of mobile networks comes with its share of novelties like those preceded. It logically improves the existing: better flow, more fluid data circulation, management of a larger amount of information and latency reduction. It will participate in the deployment of the Internet of Things as well as in the development of new services in several areas such as health (telemedicine), automobile (autonomous cars) and virtual/increased reality.

5G was introduced in France in 2020 but all its inhabitants are not housed in the same brand.

Coverage

Of the 38,132 5G sites authorized by ANFR in mainland France on January 1, 2023, only 23,291 of them operate the 3.5 GHz band also called the “queen band”. The others emit on the frequency bands 2.1 GHz and 700 MHz already used for the deployment of 3G and 4G. These last two promise a better range but a lower flow. The 2.1 GHz band privileged by SFR, Bouygues and Orange turns out to be a good compromise. If Free is currently the operator who has the largest 5G network in France (15,242 sites according to ARCEP on September 30, 2022), the operator mainly occupies the 700 MHz band. In other words, the speeds promised by 5G, it is not for immediately.

Is my city covered ?

The operators, the arcep, the ANFR and NPERF provide the general public with the cards indicating the municipalities covered by 5G. On the sites of SFR, Bouygues, Orange and Free, it is possible to distinguish the covered areas in 3.5 GHz and those in 2.1 GHz or 700 MHz in the case of Free. Arcep and ANFR cards nevertheless make it possible to display all operators at the same time. The objective is to cover 100% of the territory in 2030.

• 5G coverage (SFR, Bouygues, Orange and Free): how to know if my city is concerned ?

These articles could also interest you:

• Here are the best smartphones to buy this month
• The best smartphones at less than 200 euros this month
• 5G smartphones: Here are all compatible and available models in France

Mobile network coverage in France

Discover our analysis of coverage of 4G and 5G mobile networks.

Mobile network test

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Mobile network quality in MB/s

�� Our mobile network card: a unique, precise and innovative tool

Our mobile networks map is based on mobile signal propagation algorithms from relay antennas. It is based on data regulators of telecoms (Arcep, ANFR) and is developed by our R&D team in partnership with Inria.

Bernard Sandouno, doctoral student, expert in mobile networks

The mobile coverage card lets you know which operator offers you the best network. Our comparator will allow you to finalize your choice of package.

What is the coverage of the mobile network in France ?

1er

92.4%

4G cover

6.68 / 10

6,445

3.5 GHz 5G antennas

2th

94.3%

4G cover

6.04 / 10

6 142

3.5 GHz 5G antennas

2th

92.8%

4G cover

6.15 / 10

6 283

3.5 GHz 5G antennas

3th

90.3%

4G cover

5.67 / 10

4,680

3.5 GHz 5G antennas

Orange is the best French mobile operator with more than 28,383 municipalities covered by the operator in 4G and 560 municipalities covered in 5G. Free Mobile Farm La Marche with 24,626 municipalities covered in 4G and 6,818 municipalities covered in 5G in mainland France. See the 4G and 5G track record in France.

Which operator captures the best in your city ?

Discover the 5G coverage of the 30 largest French cities

For each municipality, department and region, we establish a general list of mobile operators (Orange, Free Mobile, Bouygues Telecom and SFR). To establish this record, we give each operator a general note, which takes into account:

• The 4G coverage rate
• The mobile performance index by operator
• as well as the number of 5G branches

Consult the mobile internet performance of each operator indoors and outdoors

Select an environment

Streaming : Success index between 0 and 1. When the index is 1 is that the video has been watched entirely with perfect or correct quality

Web navigation : effective page loading time (seconds) if the page is loaded before the timeout of 30 seconds

Download : average flow observed during the transfer in the direction of a 10MB file or a 50MB file for 10s.

Upload : average flow observed during the transfer in the amount of a 2MB file or a 50MB file for 10s for 10s

#	Operator	Global score	Streaming	Web navigation	Download	Upload

Where is the deployment of 5G ?

In total 30,710 sites 5g were deployed on the territory by Orange, Free, SFR and Bouygues.

With 16,753 sites Free Mobile offers the widest 5G coverage on the territory.

4,680

5G 3 antennas.5GHz

16,746