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Free network: cover and quality of the fixed and mobile network

Free, arrived in 2002 on the fixed Internet and in 2012 on the mobile, was able to win in the face of the big telecoms by offering ever lower prices. Let’s discover more closely what the fixed and mobile networks of this operator are really worth at competitive prices, in terms of coverage and quality in the different areas of France.

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• The essential :
• Free is one of the four main operators of Internet and mobile network In France.
• The operator offers its internet offers in ADSL / VDSL2 / Fiber and its mobile packages in 4G Or 5g.
• At the beginning of 2022, Free has almost 3.5 million fiber subscribers and launched its mobile network in 5g end 2020.
• Free fiber offers can go up to 8 Gbit/s, or the fastest on the market with SFR.

Article information updated on 12/29/2022.

Cover and quality of the Fixed Free network

Free is one of the main Internet access providers In France. It is also present internationally, especially in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.

It offers Freebox offers, among which we find the Freebox Delta has 39.99€/month for 12 months then 49.€ 99/month, its high -end offer, the Freebox Delta S has 39.99€/month without commitment and the Freebox Pop has 29.99€/month for 12 months then 39.99 €/month.

The Freebox Revolution with TV by Canal has 19.99€/month for 12 months then 44.99 €/month with 12 months commitment. Free also offers the Freebox Revolution with the Unlimited Free 5G Mobile Package, For € 35.98/month the first year, then € 60.98/month with one year commitment on the Freebox and without commitment on the Free 5G mobile package. This offer allowsSave 48 € each year !

The Free Internet network in ADSL and VDSL2

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Free presents internet offers available in ADSL And VDSL2 (Evolution of the ADSL) according to eligibility, which allow you to connect thanks to telephone sockets.

If the ADSL of Free gives access to a speed amount of 1MBIT/s Descending speed of 20 Mbit/s maximum, the VDSL2 of Free is faster:

• The downward speed may be between 15 Mbit/s And 50 Mbit/s If your accommodation is less than a km from the subscriber connection knot (NRA).
• The amounts amount can reach 8 Mbit/s If your accommodation is less than a km from a NRA.
• If your accommodation is more than 2km DU NRA, the flow emitted by the VDSL2 then becomes close to that of ADSL.

We hear by downspout, or download, the data flow you receive on your line. This is for example internet browsing, streaming or downloads. THE upright, That is also called upload, is the internet data flow that you transmit from your line (sharing photos/videos on social networks, sending files, sending emails, etc.)). In summary, the more the speeds (descendant and amount) of your Internet line are high, the faster your connection is.

In the event of a network or breakdown problem, Free offers theHelpline (at 3244) and thehome intervention included in the price of its Freebox offers. You can also get online assistance or via Twitter and Facebook. Free also launched the service Face to free In order to be able to contact them in Visio. Home assistance is free, only if the customer is not wrong.

We gathered the different Free Internet box offers Available in ADSL ::

Free Fiber Optical Network

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You want to take out a freebox offer with fiber ?

Free has a FTTH optical fiber network. This type of connection which continues to develop in 2022 and requires work directly in the building. And installing the fiber in a detached house also requires an intervention of a few hours.

It was in 2006 that Free developed this concept of fiber optics and began its deployment. The first Nro (Optical connection node), is installed the following year, in Paris. Little by little, Free installs new optical connection nodes in very dense agglomerations like Lyon or Marseille.

For less dense urban areas, Free takes advantage of its co-investment agreement and orange infrastructure to provide its customers. The first subscribers then proceed to a connection: the subscriber has a optical converter which connects the freebox and the fiber optic To have internet access.

Connected in FTTH fiber, the Freebox Delta allows, in principle, to access a downward speed that can reach 8 Gbit/s and an upward speed up to 700 Gbit/s maximum. There Freebox Pop can reach 5 Gbit/s going down while the Freebox Revolution and Mini 4K offer a flow of 1 Gbit/s.

You can do Evolve your Internet debit ! As soon as you become eligible for VDSL/VDSL2 or optical fiber, the operator undertakes to make the changes, at no cost, so that you take advantage of the best speed.

Cover and quality of the Free Mobile Network

In January 2012, Free took a new dimension, arriving on the market with its Mobile offers without obligation.

He quickly made many followers thanks to his subscriptions at low prices. We know 3 Free Mobile packages to date, available with 4G and an unlimited 5G package:

• L’Free mobile offer at € 2/month.
• There seriesspecial between € 8.99 and € 14.99/month For a year, to then go to the package at € 19.99/month.
• L’offer at € 19.99/month (Unlimited 5G package).

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Particularities of the Free network and interactive map

Find below the Interactive map of the Free Mobile 3G/4G network.

3G and 4G free mobile coverage card Legend: 3G network 4G Network 4G Big cities: Paris – Marseille – Lyon – Toulouse – Nice – Nantes – Montpellier – Strasbourg – Bordeaux – Lille

The holders of a free mobile offer are for 4G cutlery in 91% of zones in France. If there are still areas not covered by Free, customers will see their 3G or 4G cut, to have only an edge capacity (an evolved 2G speed). The number of free subscribers connected to the Free Mobile network has only increased in recent years, exceeding 13.8 million subscribers in early 2022.

The Free network and Orange homelessness: the end of the partnership

• 5 mbits/s debit from September 2016.
• 1 Mbit/s of debit in 2017 and 2018.
• 768 kbit/s of debit in 2019.
• 384 kbit/s of flow in 2020.

Free network: the operator’s position in the face of its competitors

According to the site, the data of ANFR (National Frequencies Agency) taken up by Free Mobile, in November 2022, there are 78659 4G free mobile antennas And 26312 Antennas authorized to emit in 5g. Free deploys many 700 MHz antennas to extend its 5G network.

THE 3G and 4G covers of Free have experienced previous difficulties, but the operator has since caught up well. The mobile network proposed by the operator in 3G and 4G now covers more than 99% of the population in mainland France, that is as much as the 3 other network operators. Certain white areas remain not covered and the territorial coverage of the 4G Free network is 91% for the metropolis.

Here is a comparative scheme of the 4 major Internet access providers in France with regard to quality of their network, both for calls and for SMS, web browsing and streaming, in the different areas.

Free has customers biggest internet consumers. The explanation certainly depends on the very low prices of the mobile free packages and the offers without consumption limit, much appreciated by subscribers who do not want to worry about the out -of -package. Even the packages that offer a very substantial internet envelope, sometimes going up to more than 240 GB, are often less attractive than unlimited offers.

The table below allows you to compare the Best 5G packages of the moment, with a price lower than 30 € per month and a data envelope greater than 100 GB.

What future for the Free network and the operator ?

What future for Fiber at Free ?

Regarding fiber, Free aimed to reach 500,000 new subscribers each year. With 780,000 new subscribers In 2019, Free therefore fully achieved its goal. And in January 2021, Free reached 2.5 million subscribers to its fiber optic offers, to exceed 3 million in the middle of the year and almost 4 million early 2022.

The association between Free and the Axione company has made it possible to develop the Fiber Free network, in particular thanks to public initiative networks (RIP). Axione is a digital developer of territories having contractualized no less than 2 million FTTH fiber sockets. Free thus has more than 22 million connectable fiber optic sockets.

In a few months or even a few years, Free should therefore be able to offer its fiber boxes in the less dense areas. The operator wishes to have more than 30 million connectable fiberss by 2024.

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What future for Free Mobile ?

As for the Free Mobile network, the biggest expectation of Free remains its desire to get rid of orange roaming by the end of 2022 and succeed in covering 99% of France as the operator announced.

While 4G covers almost more than 90% of France, the 5g He has followed suit and has been developing in France since December 2020. Free which was the last to launch its offers announces the largest 5G network in France with 13470 700 MHz sites and 3.5 GHz in operation (including 2384 sites 3.5 GHz) in May 2022.

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Good deals of the moment: freebox pop vs fiber power sfr

Free	SFR
See the offer	See the offer
Advantage	Video and channel premium+ series offered	Family and Netflix bouquet offered
Monthly price	€ 29.99 for 12 months Then € 39.99	26 € for 12 months Then 43 €
Fiber flow	Descendant: 5gbit/s Amount: 700Mbit/s	Descendant: 2gbit/s Amount: 700Mbit/s
Wifi 6	Included	Included
Network operator	Free	SFR
Home phone	Unlimited to fixed and mobiles in France (+ 100 international fixed)	Unlimited to fixed and mobiles in France (+ 100 international fixed)
TV	220 channels	200 channels
TV options included	Video premium (6 months) Canal+ series (12 months)	Family bouquet (6 months) Netflix or Disney+ (6 months)
Equipment	Pop server and player	SFR Box 8 and Connect TV Android
Commitment	Without engagement	12 months
See the offer	See the offer

Information valid on November 28, 2022

Good mobile

10GB € 5.99 See

100GB € 16.99 See

20GB € 5.99 See

Good mobile

€ 5.99 See the offer

€ 5.99 See the offer

€ 2.99 See the offer

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Today: 09/22/2023 15:53 ​​- 1695390789

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Which operator offers the best mobile network: Free, Orange, SFR or Bouygues ?

In 2022, should you choose Orange, Free, SFR or Bouygues rather ? Between coverage and debits, it is not always easy to choose the best operator. In this case, we analyze the performance of the four French operators for you.

How to choose a mobile telephony operator ? Customers who have already experienced problems with their operator’s after -sales service know it: it can very quickly become hell.

In this folder, we give you the keys to choosing your network according to the quality of the service to avoid unpleasant surprises as much as possible. We also invite you to read our comparison of mobile packages if you are looking above all the lowest prices.

Orange, free, sfr, bouygues: who has the best mobile coverage ?

The Arcep (Regulatory Authority for Electronic Communications) and the ANFR (National Frequencies Agency) regularly publish reports on the state of advance of the deployment of the mobile network in France.

5G network

The commercial offers of operators are starting to land, but the coverage is still limited in France. We note in passing that Free Mobile has a little ahead, even if due to the characteristics of the frequencies authorized for the operator, the deployment is both simpler, and qualitatively less interesting for customers. Free Mobile mainly offers 700 MHz access points with flows that promise to be similar to those of the best 4G. Free Mobile nevertheless deploys an increasing number of sites in 3500 MHz capable of delivering more flow.

Furthermore, Orange is the best 5G operator in number of sites 3500 MHz, Followed in order by SFR, Bouygues and Free, the latter having the deployment of the least advanced 5G network in France. In addition, Free offers the best 5G coverage in 700 MHz sites in France, but not the best speeds.

Number of 5G situable sites per operator

Another element to measure the quality of a network and investment efforts of operators, the number of active sites – in other words the number of places where operators have activated an antenna. Here is the assessment of the 5G deployment of these sites authorized according to ARCEP:

• free mobile : 13,470 sites 700 MHz, 2384 sites 3500 MHz
• Orange : 471 sites 1800 and 2100 MHz, 2698 sites 3500 MHz
• Bouygues Telecom : 6468 sites 1800 and 2100 MHz, 2689 sites 3500 MHz
• SFR : 2156 sites 1800 and 2100 MHz, 2828 sites 3500 MHz

4G network

The 4G network is often the one that most interests users. The network is today very mature with developments like 4G+ and 4G++. And the four operators are now elbow. Bouygues, Orange and SFR cover 99% of the population, against 97% for Free Mobile.

3G network

For 3G, Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom all display a coverage rate greater than 99% of the population. Free is 96%. Regarding the surface, we are 98% for Orange, 96% for SFR and 92% for Bouygues. Free is a little less efficient with only 83% coverage.

GSM network (voice and SMS)

For the voice and the SMS, Orange, SFR, Bouygues and Free cover all at least 99 % at least compared to the population. If we are more interested in the surface – for example to avoid ending up in “white areas” without network – Bouygues Telecom accuses a slight delay with 93% coverage, against 97% for Free and SFR and 98% for Orange.

Which operator is the flower champion ?

NPERF regularly publishes flow ratings on which we based ourselves. Here are the latest NPERF scores of 2021 (that of 2022 has not yet arrived) for 2G/3G/4G/5G networks.

1. Orange

Orange Was classified best mobile internet network in the first in 2021 (and 2020) by NPERF. In terms of mobile internet, it is above the competition even if free mobile the Talonne now. Orange has it:

• Best descending speed: 76.43 Mb/s
• Best speed amount: 11.44 Mb/s
• One of the best response times: 37.26 ms (compared to 50.44 ms in 2020)
• Best performance index in navigation: 72.77 % (against 68.59 % in 2020)
• Best streaming performance index: 75.16 % (compared to 84.74 % in 2020)

In January 2022, Orange is voted best mobile network in France in updating and descending according to UFC Que Choisir. The operator displays an average speed of 61.5 Mb/s for download. He is largely in mind in the face of competition. On the rising track, the average connection speed is 12.8 Mb/s.

2. free mobile

Free Mobile has made a good progression in a short time, from the depths of the ranking to second place for the best mobile operator in France. UFC Que-Choisir confirms in January 2021 the progression of Free, but with a more reserve. Xavier Niel’s operator stays below the others on the rising track.

3. Bouygues Telecom

Bouygues is often classified in second place for the quality of its network and its flows. However, he has recently been giving way to Free Mobile. According to NPERF, the operator delivers very close performance, although qualitatively a notch below. Certain rankings, especially those of UFC Que Choisir positions Bouygues Telecom at the end of the peloton.

4. SFR

The operator continues to drop in the NPERF ranking, and is now good last. Nevertheless, it should be noted that the services of the four operators are extremely close to each other. For UFC Que Choisir is quite the opposite, since the consumer association Position SFR in second place Whether on the rising way that descending.

The situation may be different at your place of residence

Orange is the best operator whether it be network coverage (population or surface) or flows. But it must be understood that this is a general observation. Alas, you could quite come across one of the rare areas which is bad or not at all covered by the Historical FAI.

Suddenly, to really know if this or that operator is made for you, it is imperative to obtain reliable cover information at your place of residence, work and/or resort. For this, the arcep offers an interactive map of France.

For a quick search, just type the name of your city in the search bar at the top right. You can then manipulate for each operator, to be selected at the bottom right. You can also choose between Voices and SMS And Mobile internet. In this last section, it is possible to sort by 3G or 4G. The tool then indicates the quality of the cover with a color code: the more dark, the better it is:

• Very good blanket
• Good blanket
• Limited coverage

So which operator is the best at home ?

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