The French mobile operator currently offers 5G services through spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.1 GHz, and 3.5 GHz bands.
According to the latest monthly report published by the French frequency and communications agency ANFR, there were a total of 44,134 licensed 5G sites in France as of January 1, 2024, of which 35,510 were local carriers. has been declared technically operational by the
According to ANFR, the number of certified 5G sites in December increased by 1.2% from the previous month.
The agency said almost all 5G sites are licensed with existing mobile sites already in use with 2G, 3G or 4G technology.
In France, mobile operators currently offer 5G services through spectrum in the 700 MHz, 2.1 GHz, and 3.5 GHz bands.
According to ANFR, a total of 23,089 sites have been approved in the 700MHz band, of which 18,128 sites are already technically operational. ANFR also said that 19,211 sites have been approved in the 2.1GHz band, but 13,703 sites are technically operational.
Meanwhile, 28,167 sites have been licensed in the 3.5 GHz band. Of these, 21,575 have been declared technically operational.
As of the end of 2023, Free Mobile had the highest number of 5G sites in operation at 18,699, followed by Bouygues Telecom (12,173), SFR (10,933), and Orange (8,776).
The agency said some of the approved 5G sites are shared by mobile phone companies.
Furthermore, as of January 1, 62,738 4G sites were licensed in mainland France, of which 57,947 were providing service.
Free Mobile, a subsidiary of Iliad, said its 5G footprint currently covers 94% of the country’s population, according to its website. Free Mobile said its 5G network now reaches 9,808 municipalities across France.
Free Mobile uses frequencies in the 700 MHz band for its 5G network, as well as frequencies in the 3.5 GHz band, which Free acquired in the French spectrum auction in 2020.
Meanwhile, Bouygues Telecom launched 5G in 20 cities across France in December 2020. Currently, the telecommunications company offers its 5G services in around 15,000 towns and municipalities across France. The big cities where the telco is offering his 5G include Paris, Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, Nice, Nantes, Montpellier, Strasbourg, Bordeaux and Lille.
French telecom company Orange’s 5G network covers 60% of the metropolitan population. The first cities covered by Orange’s 5G network include Marseille, Nice, Le Mans and Angers. Orange launched commercial 5G services in 15 municipalities in early December 2020.
Meanwhile, SFR launched its first 5G commercial network in Nice in November 2020. According to the company’s website, SFR currently provides 5G services in more than 7,000 municipalities across France.
