Free inaugurates turn its 4G network - The World

The World | 03/12/2013 at 09:20 • Updated 03/12/2013 at 12:34 | By Belouezzane Sarah and Julien Dupont-Calbo

Free package remains sold to 19.99 euros per month or 15.99 EUR for subscribers to the “box” operator, according to a statement released by the company. Xavier Niel, founder and shareholder of Free World tweeted this ad on social network.

“Free continues to expand its mobile offering by including in its 4G Free Package (19.99 euros per month or 15.99 euros per month for Freebox subscribers)” indicates the Iliad Group, Free’s parent company in a statement. “The Free package remains unchanged and prices without obligation” , the paper says.

20 GB DATA

Clearly, this means that Free subscribers already have a compatible terminal and located in a covered area will automatically have access to 4G at no extra cost. For this, they need only to initiate a simple option on their online account. Free also increases the amount of data associated with the package: to 19.99 euros per month, the consumer will have 20 GB of data, far more than its competitors. For comparison, the most generous of Bouygues Telecom package, the operator currently has the largest 4G coverage, offers 16 GB of data for 59.99 euros.

Another change in offers: Free customers with a 4G mobile and engaged with the option will have 20 GB of data even when they are on 3G. The package remains unchanged for customers that do not have 4G compatible terminal.

Xavier Niel had mentioned in the magazine Challenges , the possibility of the arrival of the operator on the market for 4G before the end of 2013. Passage in November on a television, he even talked about his desire to “halve prices of 4G” .

To make

Ultra Mobile Broadband, Free passes directly through its branches and not by the network of a competitor. Contrary to what he does for 3G with Orange. Praise him Free capacity data transport through a roaming agreement

fourth French operator had acquired in 2011, at the auction of 4G frequencies by the French State, a band of 20 mghz on frequency 2600 MHz. The group, which has installed antennas compatible with all standards (2G, 3G and 4G), said to soon convert its 3G 4G infrastructure.

COVER WHAT?

date indicates Free cover more than 50% of the population in 3G. What about 4G? For the moment, impossible to really know. No city would be fully covered to date. According to the website Sensorly that retrieves data directly from smartphones of its members (they are connected via an application), it was possible to capture the 4G Free on the morning of Tuesday, December 3 in the Saint Lazare in Paris is close to the headquarters of the operator, or in Montpellier, Hérault.

Ad Free would seriously upset its competitors. Already shaken by the launch of its 3G offerings at an unbeatable price in January 2012 (19.99 euros for unlimited voice and SMS and 3 GB of data plan, and 2 euros for 2 hours of unlimited voice and SMS), three incumbent operators – Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom – 4G relied on to restore their financial margins. In pushing their customers to choose more expensive packages, thus increasing again ARPU and absorbing their infrastructure investments.

“A BIG BLOW OF PUB”

“By offering a package with 20 GB of data, which is more than what an average customer can consume literally gives the Free 4Gpour nothing” , choking another competitor . “The 4G will cost nothing to Free he alleges since it is directly on the infrastructure, while 3G through the Orange network and it costs fees roaming “ says that competitor.

“This is a big publicity stunt, an announcement effect , believes his side Delphine Ernotte-Cunci, Executive Director of Orange France. They realized that the 4G, it worked, and that customers wanted! But with its current network, Free can not offer good coverage. Their precipitation shows some excitement “, M ^{judge me} -Ernotte Cunci.

analyst questioned Tuesday “we really do not expect Free on 4G so soon” . “This is the percentage and quality of coverage that are important to the consumer. There are surely at Free the desire to create a smokescreen before the holiday season to prevent competitors can enjoy Christmas to take market share, “, the expert concludes.

also read testimonials: 4G “could do better”, say online

Last

operator to engage in the very mobile broadband, Free had “lit” 14 antennas 4G early November. But the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) has already given permission to open 1,336 more in France.

First to launch nationwide in October 2013, Bouygues Telecom already has 500,000 subscribers in November, and commissioned 4655 antennas.

The incumbent, who leads an intensive advertising campaign, currently has more than 350,000 subscribers and is the 4G million before the end of 2013 clients. Orange was commissioned 3 439antennes 4G ^{1 st} November 2013, according to ANFR.

Meanwhile, SFR announced 600,000 subscribers current 4G November and can count of 718 antennas service.