5G in France by carrier: who has the most 5G masts, and on which bands
Cell Site Map · Published 4 November 2026
Our count of 5G masts for Orange, SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Free Mobile from ANFR records, split by frequency band, and why a 5G icon on your phone does not always mean faster speeds.
All four French networks advertise 5G, but "5G" covers very different things depending on the frequency used. We counted, from the ANFR register, how many masts each carrier runs and on which 5G bands. The figures below come from the ANFR snapshot of September 2026 and include the overseas territories.
The three 5G bands in use
- 3.5 GHz (3.4–3.8 GHz). The band people mean when they talk about "real" 5G. It has wide channels, so it is the fastest, but its range is short and it is weakened more by walls. The four carriers bought their 3.5 GHz frequencies at auction in 2020.
- 700 MHz. A low band with long range and good indoor reach, but narrow channels. 5G on 700 MHz is often no faster than good 4G.
- 2100 MHz. A band historically used for 3G and 4G, now partly reused for 5G. Speeds are similar to 4G; its main benefit is giving phones a 5G connection over a wider area.
Masts per carrier
A "mast" here is one physical support. If a carrier has several antennas or bands on the same support, it counts once.
| Carrier | Masts | With any 5G | With 3.5 GHz | 5G on 700 MHz | 5G on 2100 MHz |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | 34,069 | 19,381 | 15,412 | 14,306 | 3,968 |
| Bouygues Telecom | 32,285 | 19,510 | 11,453 | 0 | 19,348 |
| Free Mobile | 31,427 | 23,596 | 11,410 | 22,359 | 41 |
| SFR | 31,074 | 17,122 | 10,867 | 0 | 12,629 |
Source: ANFR open data, live sites only ("en service" or "techniquement opérationnel"), September 2026. Counted by Cell Site Map.
What the numbers say
- Free Mobile has the most masts with 5G (75% of its masts), largely thanks to 700 MHz. That gives wide 5G availability, but much of it runs at 4G-like speeds.
- Orange has the most 3.5 GHz masts (15,412, or 45% of its masts), so it has the largest footprint of fast 5G. It also uses both 700 MHz and 2100 MHz.
- Bouygues Telecom and SFR rely on 2100 MHz to extend 5G beyond their 3.5 GHz sites, and neither shows 5G on 700 MHz in the register.
- 3.5 GHz is roughly level between the other three at about 11,000 masts each.
Overall, about 73% of the 68,297 mast positions in France carry some 5G, and about half carry 3.5 GHz from at least one carrier.
Why the 5G icon can mislead
Your phone shows "5G" as soon as it is connected to a 5G cell on any band. Near a 700 MHz or 2100 MHz 5G antenna, it will display 5G while delivering speeds close to 4G. Also, most French 5G still works alongside 4G: the phone keeps a 4G link for control and adds 5G for data, so a weak 4G signal also limits 5G.
How to check 5G at your address
- Search your town on the map and use the generation filter to show only 5G.
- Click the nearest masts of your carrier: the details show the technologies on each one.
- Look at the distance. Within about 1 km in town, 3.5 GHz usually works well outdoors; indoors, it depends a lot on walls and windows.
For the largest cities, our 5G in French cities guide compares how many masts near each city centre carry 3.5 GHz.
And 2G and 3G?
Free Mobile never built a 2G network, and the register shows none. The other three still run 2G and 3G on many sites, but French carriers have announced switch-off plans for both in the second half of the 2020s. Old devices that only use 2G or 3G, such as some alarms, lift phones and basic mobiles, will need replacing. Check your carrier's announcements for exact dates in your area.