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France Telecoms

France’s telecom market is in Western Europe with 4 France Telecom Companies and 62.9 million mobile connections and has the third largest telecoms market in Europe. france telecom operators

According to the European Commission’s “Digital Economy and Society Index” (DESI) report for 2021, France ranks 8th out of the 27 EU member states in terms of the affordability of its telecom prices. The report measures the affordability of fixed and mobile broadband services by comparing the average price of various fixed and mobile broadband baskets (e.g. fixed broadband with at least 30 Mbps download speed, mobile broadband with at least 2 GB data, etc.) to the national average gross disposable income.

The DESI report indicates that in France, the average price of a fixed broadband basket is 0.9% of the average gross disposable income, which is below the EU average of 1.2%. For mobile broadband, the average price is 0.4% of the average gross disposable income, which is also below the EU average of 0.7%.

In terms of mobile plans, according to the European Consumer Organization’s (BEUC) “Mobile Price Benchmark 2021” report, France ranks 6th out of 28 EU countries in terms of the affordability of its mobile plans. The report compares the prices of mobile plans with at least 2 GB data and unlimited calls and texts.

The report shows that in France, the average price of such a mobile plan is €13.09 per month, which is below the EU average of €18.77 per month. However, it’s important to note that the report only looks at one specific type of mobile plan and does not take into account other factors such as coverage, network quality, and customer service.

Regulatory Agency: ARCEP (Autorité de Régulation des Communications Electroniques et des Postes )

orange
sfr 
bouygues
free

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Choosing the right telecom operator in France can be confusing. Alertify makes it easy! We help you find the best deals for free (individuals) or a small fee (businesses) in all EU countries. If you are travelling outside EU countries, we can help you reduce roaming expenses. Contact Alertify today: info@alertify.eu!

France, as member of EU, implement “roam like at home” rules which mean that when you use your mobile phone while travelling outside your home country in any EU country you don’t have to pay any additional roaming charges.

You benefit from these rules when calling (to mobile and fixed phones), sending text messages (SMS) and using data services while abroad. These rules also apply when receiving calls or texts while roaming even if the person you are calling is using a different service provider.

You pay exactly the same price for using these services when travelling in the EU as you would if you were at home.

Mobile users must be aware that outside EU countries, on the ships, cruisers, planes etc. there are still roaming charges and they can be very high. We can help you to avoid them and find best solutions for your needs. france telecom operators

eSIM cards for France

We do recommend eSIM cards when traveling: no more swapping of 
physical sim cards, everything is automated on your phone through easy 
to fill out codes. The downside of eSIM cards is that they are data-only 
sim cards and calls are not supported. Check out France eSIM deals:

 1 GB With no expiration = €2.21
3 GB With no expiration = €6.44
5 GB With no expiration = €10.40
10 GB With no expiration = €19.89
Choose between daily, monthly or plans with no expiration here.

esim
SIM cards for France

Prepaid France SIM cards include free data roaming in the EU. Sometimes 
it is capped, so always ask when buying a sim card. Free EU roaming 
means the sim card you buy in Paris or Cannes can also be used in Madrid,
 Prague or even Oslo. Free EU roaming on France SIM cards is great for 
those that arrive in France and travel to more countries in Europe on the
 same trip.

Or you can get a daily, monthly, or even SIM card for France without 
expiration.

sim

OPERATORS IN FIXED TELEPHONY: 

Bouygues Telecom, Orange, Free (Iliad), SFR Group

France’s fixed broadband market is increasingly focussed on fibre, which accounted for 71% of all fixed lines at the beginning of 2021. Growth in the fibre sector has been stimulated by households securing faster data packages during the pandemic. The number of DSL lines has fallen sharply as customers migrate to fibre infrastructure.

MOBILE VIRTUAL NETWORK OPERATORS

 

Mobile subscribers: 57 Million (Postpaid) and 14.5 Million (Prepaid)

There are many MVNOs in the market (such as: Coriolis, Prixtel, La Poste, NRJ Mobile etc), though their share of subscribers fell at the end of 2020 when one of the largest of them was acquired by its host network operator. 

Challenges

The French telecom market faces some key challenges.

  • Highly competitive market: The French telecom market is highly saturated with several major competitors. Operators compete aggressively on pricing, services, network quality and coverage. It can be difficult for any single operator to gain significant market share over others. The competitive pressures lead to lower margins.

  • Heavy regulation: French telecoms face some of the most stringent regulations in Europe. Regulations cover areas like price control, limitations on bundling services, access obligations, and universal service funding. While regulations aim to protect consumers, they reduce flexibility for operators. Staying compliant adds to costs.

  • Upgrading infrastructure: French operators must continuously invest to upgrade infrastructure for new technologies like 5G. But returns are uncertain given competition and regulation. Operators have high upfront costs but lowered ability to monetize investments under current conditions.

Opportunities France Telecom Market

The French telecom market presents several key opportunities for growth and innovation in the coming years:

5G and IoT

The rollout of 5G networks will enable new applications and use cases for Internet of Things (IoT) technology in France. 5G promises faster speeds, lower latency, and the ability to connect exponentially more devices, paving the way for smart cities, autonomous vehicles, industrial automation, and other IoT solutions. Major French telecoms like Orange are investing heavily in 5G infrastructure to capture this opportunity.

Fiber Optic Broadband France Telecom Market

France aims to achieve nationwide fiber-optic broadband coverage by 2025. Expanding high-speed fiber networks presents a major opportunity for operators to offer gigabit speeds and gain market share. Fiber broadband supports data-heavy applications like streaming video that are driving internet usage. Operators are competing to reach new customers as fiber connections steadily increase across France.

Convergence and Bundled Services

French telecom companies can drive revenue by converging connectivity with content and services. By offering bundled packages like triple-play (broadband, TV, landline) or quad-play (adding mobile), operators create loyalty and increase profitability per customer. As convergence accelerates, customers want seamless connectivity across devices and platforms. This shift toward bundled services and hybrid offerings presents a strategic opportunity for major players in France’s telecom landscape.

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