Iliad subsidiary Free Mobile has become the fourth mobile network in France to announce the arrival of its 5G service, which is now available to new and existing customers taking a revamped version of the operator's EUR 19.99 plan. The company said that it is including 5G at no extra cost on what is currently the country’s largest 5G network footprint, reaching almost 40 percent of the French population.
As reported by spectrum agency ANFR, Free Mobile has been active in securing the necessary 5G permits, with 11,770 cell sites authorised as of 01 December. Out of these, all were authorised in the 700 MHz band and 373 were given permission to use 3.5 GHz frequencies (as well as 700 MHz frequencies). By 14 December, the operator's 5G footprint had reached 5,255 sites already in service, of which 220 were using 3.5 GHz frequencies, and covered several metropolitan areas such as Toulouse and Lyon.
Free's revamped EUR 19.99 voice and data plan is offered at a discounted price when bundled with a broadband plan (EUR 9.99/month with the Freebox Pop and EUR 15.99/month with other Freebox packages).
Once customers activate the 5G service online in their subscriber space, they benefit from 150 GB of data on a compatible 5G handset, increasing to an unlimited allowance for those taking the plan with a Freebox bundle. The operator’s device portfolio is now ranging 5G smartphones starting from EUR 319.
