The commercial roll-out launched on 18 November 2020, following the award on 12 November 2020 of the 3.4-3.8 GHz spectrum to Bouygues Telecom, Free Mobile, Orange and SFR.
These four operators are currently deploying 5G network infrastructure with progressive coverage obligations by 2030, when French mobile networks must be 100% 5G.
Experiments are ongoing, both on the 3.4-3.8 GHz spectrum, and on the experimental 26.5-27.5 GHz spectrum, which has not yet been subject to a commercial roll-out.
Operators must also have launched "slicing" 5G services by 2023 at the latest. This feature of future 5G networks will allow operators to offer different levels of mobile network performance, depending on their customers' needs.
The French frequency agency (“ANFR”) had set a target that each operator should have deployed 3,000 5G sites. The four authorised operators have deployment milestones, specified at Article 3 of the applicable specifications (annex 1 of their authorisations), summarised as follows and applicable to each operator:
- 31 December 2022: 3,000 sites with a minimum of 100 Mbit/s downstream rate for all sites and 240 Mbit/s downstream rate for 75% of the sites;
- 31 December 2024: 8,000 sites with a minimum of 100 Mbit/s downstream rate for all sites and 240 Mbit/s downstream rate for 85% of the sites;
- 31 December 2025: 10,500 sites with a minimum of 100 Mbit/s downstream rate for all sites and 240 Mbit/s downstream rate for 90% of the sites.
- 31 December 2030: all operators’ sites with a minimum of 240 Mbit/s downstream rate.
Specific territorial conditions are also provided, notably concerning urban areas and highways.
In a study published on 15 December 2022, the French Electronic Communications, Postal and Print media distribution Regulatory Authority (“ARCEP”) identified the number of commercially open 5G sites:
- Bouygues Telecom : 8,714 of which sites equipped with frequency band:
- 700 & 800 MHz : 0
- 1800 & 2100 MHz : 8416
- 3500 Mhz : 4,292
- Free Mobile : 15,242 of which sites equipped with frequency band:
- 700 & 800 MHz : 15239
- 1800 & 2100 MHz : 0
- 3500 MHz : 3,680
- Orange : 4682 of which sites equipped with frequency band:
- 700 & 800 MHz : 0
- 1800 & 2100 MHz : 331
- 3500 MHz : 4,511
- SFR : 6885 of which sites equipped with frequency band:
- 1800 & 2100 MHz : 2,759
- 3500 MHz : 4,126
Finally, as mentioned by the ARCEP in a 10 November 2020 document, only a non-stand-alone (NSA) 5G service will be implemented over the next few years. Operators are also using pre-existing 4G networks to complement their 5G services, even though some are limiting the use of these networks in order to provide fewer but better 5G services.
The ARCEP regularly updates the state of 5G deployment on its website.
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