The government estimates that the four operators will have to cover the entire territory in 4G by the end of 2029. This is in any case the objective set in the digital roadmap.
A strategic roadmap in the digital field, and a series of specific measures. This is what the government presented on March 25. In terms of connectivity, the objective of providing fiber throughout the country by 2025 was reiterated. As for mobile broadband, you will have to wait a little longer.
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In fact, the target date is the end of 2029. By this date, access to 4G must be effective throughout the country. Including, therefore, in the most remote places. If this schedule is kept, the four major operators will therefore have taken around fifteen years to complete this project – 4G having appeared in France from 2013.
Territorial coverage estimated between 92 and 96% in 4G
According to the My Mobile Network websiteOrange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile cover at least 99% of the population in the metropolitan area — according to data from September 30, 2023. But in terms of surface area, it is less good: the results range from 92 to 96% depending on the operators
This disparity is not surprising: the French population was mainly urban, human concentration is mainly in the city. In the countryside, there are areas that are much less densely populated and also much more difficult to access. Operators have therefore focused their efforts where their customers live most of the time.
Before that, France will experience an extinction of old generations of mobile telephony. Concerning 2G, Orange is aiming for the end of 2025, while Bouygues and SFR for the end of 2026. For 3G, it will be 2028 for the historic operator and 2029 for its two competitors. For Free Mobile, it no longer operates a 2G network.
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At the same time, the deployment of 5G will also continue, in order to expand access to very high speed mobile. And at the turn of the 2030s, we will start to see 6G appear. However, it will still be necessary to find arguments to promote it to the public, because until now the promised leap between 4G and 5G has not been as significant as that between 3G and 4G.
