How to get 5G? Explanations and details of the conditions necessary to benefit from 5G

Good news: if the 5G packages were still rare last year, they are now available from the majority of mobile operators from France, be it big names (SFR, Free, Bouygues and Orange) or many smaller virtual network operators.

How to use 5G on my galaxy smartphone ?

5G is the fifth generation of mobile networks developed after 4G (LTE). Much more than a simple increase in the speed of download and live retransmissions, it is the basis of the creation of autonomous cars, augmented reality and other new wireless technologies.

Before trying the solutions offered, it is important to check that your device and its related applications have the latest software update. To do this, follow the following steps:

Step 1. Go to the Settings > Software update.

2nd step. Press on Download and installation.

Step 3. Follow the instructions on the screen to install the latest version.

Advantages of 5G and how to connect

In theory, 5G is able to reach maximum speeds of 10 Gbps per second against 10 Mbps per second for 4G. Its speed is therefore incredibly efficient but this 4G update also allows better interconnection via the Internet of Things (IoT). Thus, 5G is considered to be revolutionary because it allows more devices to connect with each other and to operate simultaneously.

To use 5G, you must have a smartphone and a package compatible with 5G. In addition, your device must be in an area providing a 5G service. If all these conditions are met, you will be connected automatically to 5G. The 5G services are limited by the operator and the region where you are but more and more operators offer it because 5G infrastructure is booming.

How to get 5G ? Explanations and details of the conditions necessary to benefit from 5G

You want to go to 5G but you are not sure of the conditions required to capture this network ? Discover in our guide how to have 5G: own a compatible phone, subscribe to a 5G offer and be in a 5G reception area. We also present the Mobile 5G offers of the moment.

• The essential
• You must be Subscribed to a 5G package To benefit from this mobile network.
• Must also Change phone for 5G Because only the most recent models are compatible.
• 5G covers partially the territory : You have to be in the covered areas to capture 5G.
• Normally, all recent mobiles have the5G option already activated in their network settings.
• The main mobile operators (Free, SFR, Orange and Bouygues) offer between 1 and 5 5G packages each.

The prerequisites essential to have 5G

Should we change your phone for 5G ?

How to get 5G ? The first condition is to be owner of a 5G smartphone. Indeed, this mobile network uses new frequency bands, such as 3.5 GHz band, which are totally different from the old generations of network such as 2G, 3G or 4G.

All phones sold Before 2019 or 2020 are not compatible with these frequency bands: their internal mobile antennas cannot capture a 5G signal. It is therefore necessary to change phone for 5G if yours is old and not compatible.

The Samsung Galaxy S10 was the First 5G smartphone to be marketed in France, in March 2019. Many high -end models have followed it. Today, we can find 5G phones at all prices, and more and more under 250-300 €.

How to know if my phone is 5G or not compatible ? Just type the Reference of your smartphone On the Internet to find dedicated technical sheets that will inform you about 4G and 5G compatibility of your device.

Subscribe a 5G compatible package

As soon as a new generation of mobile network emerges in the territory, operators update their offers and offer new mobile packages compatible with this network. The 5G that has recently landed in France, the first 5G compatible packages were marketed from end 2020.

It is essential to be holder of one of these offers To be able to capture 5G. If you have subscribed to a 4G package, then the latter can only operate at the maximum on 4G or 4G frequency bands+ of your operator network.

Good news: if the 5G packages were still rare last year, they are now available from the majority of mobile operators from France, be it big names (SFR, Free, Bouygues and Orange) or many smaller virtual network operators.

Are 5G packages more expensive ? For the moment, most 5G offers are packages with a considerable minimum envelope, higher than 50 GB. These packages are barely more expensive than their 4G equivalents. Many operators have also transformed their 4G packages into 5G offers without increasing their prices. You have to wait a bit before seeing 5G packages disembark for small consumers.

You wish to take out a 5G package ? 09 75 18 80 51 Find an adapted offer
Free Selectra Service

Be covered by the 5G of your operator

The 5G coverage of the metropolitan territory is not for the moment not as complete as that in 4G (which covers 99% Population). Operators constantly deploy Their 5G networks and new antennas to improve their covers.

These are essentially the urban areas of the country which currently benefit from decent coverage in 5g. In less dense and rural areas, 4G remains the mobile network the most efficient that we can capture. It is therefore possible that you benefit from 5G at home, in town, but that you are limited to 4G on the go.

To find out how to get 5G when you capture a mobile signal, just look at the acronym which appears in the screen notification bar. If a Mention “5g” is present, then you benefit from 5G.

Mobile networks are retrocompatible it means that if you do not capture 5G, your mobile will then Top on a 4G signal, And so on (no 4G ? the device goes to 3G). This retrocmpatibility of networks and frequencies is essential insofar as the most recent networks do not always optimal cover in remote areas.

Make sure to have 5G activated on your smartphone

Make sure that the 5G network is activated in your phone settings. As a rule, the network is automatically recognized and activated by all compatible smartphones. To activate 5G on iPhone, you have to follow these steps:

1. Tab Settings, Then Cellular data and finally Options.
2. Line “Voice and data“should mention” 5g auto “: if this is the case, 5G is already activated.
3. If not, click on it and choose 5g on Or 5g auto. (5g We still use the 5G network to the detriment of the battery)

As a reminder, only iPhone from the 12th generation (iPhone 12) are compatible with 5G.

Regarding Android phones, this setting changes by brand but is generally found in the smartphone mobile network tab. For example, for a Samsung Galaxy S21, it’s necessary :

1. Apply Settings Then Connections.
2. Choose Mobile networks And SIM 1 network mode.
3. Then select 5G/4G/3G/2G (automatic connection).

How to get the 5G SFR ?

As soon as you have a 5G smartphone, you are able to take out an offer SFR 5G package of your choice, and SFR offers 4, ranging from 110 GB to unlimited data. The operator recently added the 140 GB package in its catalog, replacing the old offer 110 GB. There is no prerequisites for Activate the 5G SFR With these packages: once subscribed, you just have to take advantage of the operator’s 5G coverage, still in deployment. If you do not have a compatible smartphone, it is possible for you to change your mobile SFR in order to take advantage of the 5G network.

Red, the Low-Cost brand of SFR, has several 5G packages which, depending on the period, are available between 18 and 24 €/month and without commitment. All holders of RED mobile packages can take advantage of it by changing their offer from their subscriber space.

How to benefit from 5G at Orange ?

You can Get the 5g of orange Via three 5G orange packages, located in a fork of 120 to 200 GB of monthly data. These packages were recently marketed by the operator, who has reshaped its range of mobile offers in 5G.

SOSH, a brand belonging to Orange, does not currently have 5G compatible packages.

Bouygues: how to have the 5G of the operator ?

Bouygues is the most prolific mobile operator at the 5G level since it offers Four packages compatible with this network, with a 12 -month commitment period, starting at € 16.99/month and whose envelopes go from 70 to 240 GB. There is no need to know How to activate 5G Bouygues since this configuration is made at his phone level.

Package B and you 5G: 130 GB The operator’s B & YOU range is attractive in terms of price. A 5G package is available within this range: it has 130 GB of 5G mobile data and costs € 24.99/month.

What to do to have 5g free ?

At Free, it’s simple: there is only one package compatible with 5G: the Free 150 GB package, Available for € 19.99 per month. This package was previously compatible with a maximum of 4G+ and it was displayed at the same price before the arrival of 5G at Free. The operator made it compatible with 5G in December 2020 without additional cost.

The operator has the greatest number of‘5G antennas on the territory, more than 12,000. Discover, through a mobile coverage card of ARCEP, all 5G branches of the operator in service on the territory.

Activate 5g free mobile: how to do ? If you have had the unlimited free package for some time, the5G option is not automatically activated by default. To do this, you have to go to your subscriber space, then to the tab My options And 5G service. Then click on the notch Activated and restart your mobile to automatically switch to the 5G network of the operator.

Updated on 03/30/2023

Passionate about the Technical Universe of Telecoms, Jean started working on Echos du Net in January 2021. His favorite subject ? Articles on themes related to the operator Free.