Free Mobile
Free Mobile is a French telecommunications company specializing in mobile services, operating as a subsidiary of the Iliad Group and providing 4G and 5G wireless internet, voice, and data plans to consumers without long-term contracts.[1][2] Launched on January 10, 2012, by entrepreneur Xavier Niel, it disrupted the French mobile market with affordable, unlimited offerings that forced competitors to lower prices and increase service quality, earning recognition from the French Treasury for transforming the sector.[3][4] As of June 30, 2025, Free Mobile serves 15.5 million retail subscribers, making it one of France's major operators.[5] The company offers a range of plans starting at €2 per month for basic calling and data, up to €19.99 for high-data 5G options with unlimited calls, SMS, and MMS, including perks like international roaming in over 115 destinations and integration with Free's fixed broadband services for bundled discounts.[1] Its network boasts the largest 5G deployment in France, with over 21,000 sites covering 95% of the population, and it pioneered the world's first core-network-integrated mobile VPN (mVPN).[6][7] Free Mobile continues to innovate, claiming the first standalone 5G network in France in 2024 and expanding services like the Free TV app with over 300 free channels.[6][1]Overview
Background and ownership
Free Mobile was established on December 17, 2009, when the French telecommunications regulator ARCEP awarded Iliad SA the fourth 3G mobile license, enabling the creation of the subsidiary to challenge the dominant operators in the market. Founded by entrepreneur Xavier Niel, who had previously built Iliad into a leading internet service provider, Free Mobile was positioned from the outset as a disruptive force aimed at introducing competitive pricing and innovation in France's mobile sector.[8] Iliad SA, the parent company, fully owns Free Mobile. It was publicly traded on Euronext Paris under the ticker ILD until its delisting in October 2021 following a tender offer by Niel's holding company to take it private. Xavier Niel maintains control of Iliad SA through his family-owned holding company, NJJ, which now holds nearly full ownership following the 2021 consolidation.[9][10] This structure allows Niel to steer the group's strategy without public market dependencies. Key corporate milestones include the 2018 launch of iliad Italia, marking Iliad's rebranding efforts to unify its European identity under the lowercase "iliad" branding and extend operations beyond France, and the 2021 delisting of Iliad SA from Euronext Paris. In 2023, Free Mobile integrated more closely with Iliad's pan-European operations as the group reported unified financials across France, Poland, and Italy, reaching nearly 10.7 million mobile subscribers in Italy alone and solidifying its multi-country footprint.[11][12] Leadership at Free Mobile is anchored by Xavier Niel as founder and chairman of Iliad's board, providing strategic oversight. Thomas Reynaud has served as CEO of Iliad Group since May 2018, emphasizing cost efficiency and operational leverage to drive profitability amid international growth.[13][14]Services offered
Free Mobile offers a range of no-contract mobile plans emphasizing unlimited voice calls, SMS, and MMS across France, with high data allowances and 5G access included in premium tiers. The flagship Forfait Free 5G provides 350 GB of data per month in France (throttled to 512 kbps after exhaustion), unlimited 5G/4G access, and 35 GB for use in the European Union and 115 other destinations, priced at €19.99 per month for non-Freebox subscribers or €9.99 for those with a compatible Freebox fiber subscription.[1] A promotional Série Free plan offers 110 GB of data under the same unlimited voice and messaging terms for €8.99 per month for the first 12 months, reverting to €19.99 thereafter. For budget users, the entry-level Forfait 2€ includes 2 hours of calls plus unlimited SMS and MMS for €2 per month, free for Freebox subscribers, though it lacks significant data. Family bundles allow up to four Forfait Free 5G lines at €9.99 each per month for Freebox households, promoting multi-line affordability.[15][16][17] Beyond core telephony, Free Mobile integrates with the parent Free brand's fixed-line services through the Freebox, offering discounted mobile plans and seamless bundling for combined broadband and mobile use, such as shared Wi-Fi calling and content access. Mobile internet hotspots are supported via data tethering on all plans, allowing users to share their cellular connection with other devices without additional fees, up to the plan's data limit. While primarily consumer-focused, Free Mobile's network supports IoT connectivity for compatible devices, leveraging its 4G/5G infrastructure for low-power applications in partnership with enterprise providers. For cross-border users, options include bundling compatibility with Iliad's Italian services under the shared Iliad Group, enabling extended EU roaming benefits and potential multi-country subscriptions.[18][19] Key differentiators include commitment-free subscriptions, with no long-term contracts or activation fees beyond a one-time €10 SIM cost, and free EU/international roaming up to specified limits without extra charges. Free Mobile has maintained stable pricing without increases since its 2012 launch, when it disrupted the market by offering unlimited plans at €19.99—up to 99% cheaper than competitors' equivalents—prompting widespread price reductions across the industry. As of 2025, minor updates include enhanced 5G add-ons for unlimited high-speed access in select bundles and inflation-resistant tiers, preserving the low-cost model while expanding data caps to meet rising demand. These features underscore Free Mobile's focus on accessible, high-value connectivity.[20][21][18]History
Foundation and 3G launch (2007-2012)
In 2007, Iliad, the parent company behind the Free internet service provider, sought to enter the French mobile market by bidding for the fourth UMTS (3G) license from regulator ARCEP. The bid proposed paying the license fee in installments over 10 years but was rejected on financial grounds, as ARCEP deemed the financing plan insufficient.[22][23] Following two years of intense lobbying by the three incumbent operators (Orange, SFR, and Bouygues Telecom) against a fourth entrant, prolonged government debates on license terms, and Iliad's persistent advocacy for favorable conditions including national roaming provisions, ARCEP awarded Iliad the fourth 3G license in December 2009.[24] The license granted Free Mobile (Iliad's mobile subsidiary) 10 MHz of spectrum in the 900 MHz band and 10 MHz in the 2100 MHz band, with obligations to cover 27% of the French population by January 2012 using its own infrastructure, rising to 75% by 2015 using its own infrastructure.[25][26][27][28] To ensure nationwide service at launch while building its core network, Free Mobile signed a six-year national roaming agreement with Orange in March 2011, allowing access to Orange's 2G and 3G infrastructure in designated NRAs for voice and data services.[29][30] This deal, valued at an estimated €300-500 million annually, enabled Free Mobile to bypass some early deployment hurdles and provide seamless coverage from day one, though it drew scrutiny from regulators over potential anti-competitive effects.[31] Free Mobile faced significant barriers during network rollout, including delays in securing site permits from local authorities due to public concerns over electromagnetic emissions and visual impact, as well as indirect opposition from competitors through regulatory complaints and infrastructure access disputes.[24] Despite these obstacles, the company accelerated construction, deploying over 2,000 3G sites by late 2011—primarily in urban and suburban areas—to fulfill its 27% population coverage mandate with proprietary infrastructure.[32] Free Mobile officially launched commercial services on January 10, 2012, offering unlimited calls, texts, and data plans at drastically reduced prices compared to rivals, which quickly attracted over 5 million subscribers within the first year and captured nearly 8% market share.[33][34] Initial effective coverage reached 75% of the French population, combining the operator's own 3G network with Orange's roaming in NRAs for rural and underserved zones.[35] This entry disrupted pricing across the sector, forcing incumbents to slash tariffs by up to 50% in response.[36]4G expansion (2013-2017)
Free Mobile's expansion into 4G services marked a significant phase in its network development, building on its established 3G infrastructure to offer higher-speed mobile broadband. In 2011, the French telecommunications regulator ARCEP awarded Free Mobile a license for 20 MHz of duplex spectrum in the 2600 MHz band, enabling the deployment of LTE technology. This allocation, priced at 271 million euros, positioned Free Mobile alongside other operators to roll out 4G networks, with the band supporting urban high-capacity services.[37] Commercial 4G services launched in December 2013, initially covering more than 1,000 towns and cities through over 700 active base stations operating in the 2600 MHz band. This rollout provided unlimited 4G data at no extra cost to existing subscribers, emphasizing Free Mobile's strategy of aggressive pricing to drive adoption. The initial deployment focused on densely populated areas, achieving rapid uptake amid growing demand for mobile data.[38][39] To enhance network capacity and coverage, Free Mobile acquired additional spectrum in subsequent years. In 2015, ARCEP assigned an initial 5 MHz duplex block in the 1800 MHz band, expanding to a full 15 MHz duplex by May 2016, which improved mid-range performance and compatibility with a wider range of devices. This acquisition addressed limitations in the higher-frequency 2600 MHz band, facilitating better indoor penetration and overall throughput. In late 2015, Free Mobile secured 10 MHz duplex in the 700 MHz band through a competitive auction, with licenses issued in December 2015; this low-frequency allocation was particularly targeted at extending 4G to rural areas, where propagation characteristics allow for broader site spacing. Deployment in the 700 MHz band began in 2016, contributing to improved coverage in underserved regions.[40][41] By 2017, these efforts resulted in substantial network milestones, with Free Mobile achieving approximately 82% population coverage for 4G services and operating over 7,500 dedicated 4G sites, contributing to a total network exceeding 10,000 sites when including 3G infrastructure. This progress reflected a concerted buildout, prioritizing urban density while extending reach through lower bands.[42][43] During this transition period, network management challenges arose due to surging data traffic. In 2015, ARCEP reviewed and approved amendments to Free Mobile's national roaming agreement with Orange, which included provisions to cap 3G roaming speeds at 384 kbit/s in certain scenarios to mitigate congestion and encourage migration to Free Mobile's own 4G infrastructure. This ruling balanced competitive access with efficient spectrum use, ensuring stability as 4G deployment accelerated. The national roaming agreement with Orange was extended in 2020 but began phasing out as Free Mobile's own network matured.[44]5G deployment and recent milestones (2018-2025)
Free Mobile began preparing for 5G deployment in the late 2010s, aligning with France's national spectrum strategy following the 4G expansions. In 2020, the French regulator Arcep conducted an auction for the 3.4-3.8 GHz band, essential for mid-band 5G coverage and capacity. Free Mobile secured 70 MHz of spectrum in this band for €602 million, positioning it alongside competitors Orange, SFR, and Bouygues Telecom to enable nationwide rollout.[45] The operator launched its initial non-standalone (NSA) 5G service on December 16, 2020, leveraging dynamic spectrum sharing with its 4G LTE network in major urban areas such as Paris, Lyon, and Marseille, with over 5,000 active sites at the time. This early deployment focused on providing enhanced speeds and capacity in high-demand zones, using the newly acquired 3.5 GHz frequencies alongside low-band 700 MHz for broader reach. At launch in December 2020, Free Mobile's 5G network covered approximately 40% of the French population with over 5,000 active sites. By early 2021, coverage had expanded further.[46][47] In 2021, Free Mobile refarmed its 2100 MHz band—previously allocated for 3G services—for 5G use, increasing its mid-band holdings to 14.8 MHz following regulatory approvals and spectrum redistribution agreements with other operators. This refarming improved indoor penetration and urban density support for 5G. Further spectrum enhancements came in 2024 with the addition of low-band 900 MHz (n8) allocations, enhancing indoor coverage and rural extension, bringing Free Mobile's total low- and mid-band 5G portfolio to support more robust non-line-of-sight performance.[48][49] Overseas expansion began in French territories, with Free Mobile participating in 5G spectrum auctions for regions like Guadeloupe, Martinique, Saint-Martin, and Saint-Barthélemy starting in 2022, leading to initial site authorizations and commercial launches in early 2025 across the French Antilles. In parallel, the Iliad Group, Free Mobile's parent, pursued partnerships in the Pacific Islands region through 2023, enabling 5G roaming and network-sharing agreements with local operators to extend services to French expatriates and tourists in areas like New Caledonia and French Polynesia.[50][51] By mid-2025, Free Mobile achieved approximately 95% 5G population coverage in metropolitan France, with over 20,000 active 5G sites, including significant 3.5 GHz deployments for high-speed zones. A key milestone was the September 2024 nationwide rollout of standalone (SA) 5G, making Free Mobile the first French operator to offer SA architecture on a national scale, enabling advanced features like Voice over New Radio (VoNR) and lower latency for enterprise applications. This SA upgrade integrated seamlessly with Iliad's broader European 5G assets in Italy and Poland, facilitating cross-border roaming enhancements and shared R&D for network optimization.[18][6][52]Network and Technology
Frequency bands and spectrum
Free Mobile's spectrum allocations, managed by the French regulator ARCEP, have been strategically acquired through auctions and refarming to support network evolution across 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies, prioritizing mid-band frequencies for balanced coverage and capacity. For 3G (UMTS) services, Free Mobile received its initial allocations in 2009 as part of the fourth mobile license award. The company was granted a 5 MHz duplex block in the 900 MHz band, repurposed from existing GSM spectrum, and a 5 MHz duplex block in the 2100 MHz band from the remaining available pool.[53][54] These holdings, totaling 10 MHz in duplex bandwidth, enabled nationwide 3G deployment starting in 2012 while adhering to coverage obligations.[54] The transition to 4G/LTE involved key acquisitions beginning in 2011. Free Mobile secured 20 MHz duplex in the 2600 MHz band (n7) via ARCEP's allocation procedure, providing high-capacity urban spectrum for initial LTE rollout.[55] In 2015, it was assigned 15 MHz duplex in the 1800 MHz band (n3), refarmed from 2G, to enhance mid-band performance and coverage.[40] The following year, Free Mobile obtained 10 MHz duplex in the 700 MHz band (n28) through a competitive auction, targeting rural and indoor penetration.[41] Additionally, the existing 2100 MHz 3G spectrum was progressively refarmed to LTE, adding flexibility without new auctions.[56] 5G deployments leveraged both new and refarmed spectrum. In 2020, ARCEP awarded Free Mobile 70 MHz in the 3.4–3.8 GHz mid-band (n78, TDD), the largest block among operators, to prioritize capacity in dense areas.[57] Between 2022 and 2024, further refarming expanded low-band 5G capabilities: the 900 MHz holding increased to 8.7 MHz duplex, and the 2100 MHz to approximately 14.8 MHz duplex, supporting standalone 5G with improved propagation.[58][49] Free Mobile's approach focuses on mid-band spectrum (1800 MHz, 2100 MHz, 2600 MHz, and 3.5 GHz) to optimize capacity and efficiency, while low-band (700 MHz and 900 MHz) addresses coverage gaps. By 2025, total spectrum holdings reached approximately 200 MHz (counting full FDD uplink/downlink and TDD extents), built through cost-effective auction participation and refarming to minimize acquisition costs relative to incumbents.[59][49]| Generation | Band | Duplex Bandwidth (MHz) | Allocation Year | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G | 900 MHz (n8) | 5 | 2009 | Initial GSM refarm for UMTS |
| 3G | 2100 MHz (n1) | 5 | 2009 | From remaining 3G pool; later expanded via refarming |
| 4G/LTE | 2600 MHz (n7) | 20 | 2011 | High-capacity FDD for urban LTE |
| 4G/LTE | 1800 MHz (n3) | 15 | 2015 | 2G refarm for LTE expansion |
| 4G/LTE | 700 MHz (n28) | 10 | 2016 | Auction for low-band coverage |
| 4G/LTE | 2100 MHz (n1) | ~14.8 (refarmed) | 2018+ | From 3G to LTE migration |
| 5G NR | 3.4–3.8 GHz (n78) | 70 (TDD) | 2020 | Mid-band auction for capacity |
| 5G NR | 900 MHz (n8) | 8.7 | 2022–2024 | Refarm for low-band 5G |
| 5G NR | 2100 MHz (n1) | ~14.8 | 2022–2024 | Refarm for low-band 5G |