SFR writes Arcep about Free Mobile network coverage tests

French operator SFR has written to telecom regulator Arcep to call its attention to verification methods for the base stations of new MNO Free Mobile, yet it did not make an official complaint, Les Echos reports. SFR sent its own testers to gauge its competitor's network coverage and found that 80 to 97 percent of around 3,000 calls its testers made with Free Mobile Sim cards in Paris and Western France transited through Orange base stations. Les Echos learned that SFR conducted six testing campaigns in Paris, Caen, Nantes, Vitre, Le Havre and a fifth western city. Le Havre was the exception, with over half of calls going through Free Mobile base stations. There was a reported 10 percent call failure rate in the city, compared to less than 1 percent for calls using Orange base stations. Les Echos writes that Orange France and Bouygues Telecom have also assessed Free Mobile's coverage.