Free Mobile is preparing to activate its 5G network in France. With its 12,143 5G antennas, the telecoms troublemaker could offer better network coverage at launch than its competitors, Orange, SFR and Bouygues Télécom. On the other hand, the Free Mobile network risks offering a lower speed. Explanations.
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At the end of November, SFR signed the kickoff of 5G in France. The operator at the red square first activated its mobile network in the city of Nice. SFR was quickly followed by Bouygues Télécom. The operator launched 5G in 20 cities in France on December 1. Finally, Orange activated its 5G network in 15 French cities on December 3.
Alone Free Mobile has not yet activated 5G in France. Asked a few weeks ago, Thomas Reynaud, the CEO of Iliad, said that Free’s 5G network will be available in the coming weeks. Concretely, Free could announce the activation of its network from one day to another.
Better 5G coverage than SFR, Orange and Bouygues?
Before launching, Free Mobile must ensure that the speeds offered by its 5G network will meet expectations, report our colleagues from Figaro. Unlike SFR, Orange and Bouygues Télécom, Free mainly relies on antennas in the 700 MHz band for 5G. This frequency band offers better coverage and better range than the bands chosen by the competition.
Other telecoms are betting more on 5G at 3.5 GHz and 2.1 GHz. These frequency bands suffer from more limited coverage but offer better speeds than 700 MHz from Free Mobile. In fact, the telecoms troublemaker was content to convert 4G antennas into 5G stations using Dynamic Spectrum Sharing technology. Stéphane Richard, CEO of Orange, therefore believes that Free Mobile will offer a “fake 5G”. According to him, only the 3.5 GHz band can ensure speeds worthy of 5G.
Either way, Free Mobile is theoretically able to stand out thanks to the better coverage of its 5G network. The operator also has 12,143 sites (all on the 700 MHz band). It far distances the competition, which is shared 5,719 sites in France. On the price side, Free Mobile is committed to offering generous 5G offers at the right price.
Source: Le Figaro
