The Free Mobile operator has just increased the quantity of data in its 5G plan, going from 300 to 350 GB without any increase in price. A generous offer, but what about the competition?
The battle rages between the operators! After the launch of SFR Multi at the end of August and several 5G packages for less than €10, it’s Free’s turn to step up the pace and throw all its might into the battle. The ISP is enjoying good momentum, as evidenced by its impressive gain in subscribers at the start of 2024. Recently, it decided to spoil its customers by allowing them to send SMS via Wi-Fi, 4G and via mobile data at no extra cost. (see our article), by providing them with an application to follow Ligue 1 in real time, or with the Free Family offer.
The operator is once again striking a blow by increasing the data envelope of its 5G package. Subscribers now benefit from 350 GB of 5G per month in mainland France, compared to 300 GB previously, without any price increase – it remains at €19.99 per month. This development is effective now for all subscribers, new and old.
5G Free plan: an excellent 350 GB marketing coup
As a reminder, the Free 5G package includes unlimited calls, SMS and MMS with 350 GB of 5G data in mainland France, 35 GB of 4G per month in more than 110 destinations, and access to the OQEE TV application by Free to access hundreds of live and replay channels. In short, a rather complete package, if not the most generous package on the French market in terms of mobile data volume, all while respecting its commitment in 2022 not to increase the prices of its star packages.
This practice is quite common among the operator, because it is the second time this year that it has increased the quantity of data in the subscription without changing the price. Remember that at the launch of its mobile offer in 2012, Free Mobile offered a data envelope of 3 GB – which was rather generous for the time, before increasing to 100 GB in 2017, reaching 350 GB compatible with 5G today. ‘today.
Of course, we’re not going to complain! The fact remains that this new subscription is above all a marketing coup on the part of Free, which presents itself as a generous operator who cares about its customers. Indeed, whether it is 300 or 350 GB, all this data is useless for the majority of users, who will not use as much. Arcep has calculated that the French consume on average 14 GB of data per month. In short, paying more for more GB is throwing money down the drain.
5G plan: what does the competition offer?
But is Free really that generous? What do we find on the competition side? At SFR, it is possible to take out a subscription at €19.99 per month for 300 GB of 5G data usable in mainland France and 35 GB of 4G roaming from more than 124 destinations. Bouygues Telecom also offers an interesting B&You offer, with 300 GB of data and 35 GB of 4G usable in Europe and the French Overseas Territories for €16.99 per month. In short, it’s worth it! On the other hand, Orange’s prices are stratospheric since its 5G offer with 300 GB of mobile data is €67.99 per month, with a 24-month commitment.
But let’s not forget the MVNOs, the virtual operators, who are not left out. Thus, Lyca Mobile and NRJ Mobile offer 300 GB of data for €14.99 per month on the Bouygues Telecom network. At Prixtel, it is possible to benefit from 250 GB for €11.99 per month, as well as 250 GB for €12.99 per month at Coriolis. Excellent data/price ratios!