Free Mobile, France: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
Free Mobile has announced no date to switch off 3G, according to the sources we checked on 26 October 2026. The table gives each source and how far we trust it; the rest of the page says what this means for IoT devices in France.
2G and 3G status at Free Mobile
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3G | No plan announced | none | high | arcep.fr, universfreebox.com Arcep table: Free 3G end date not yet announced. Free is already reducing its own 3G sites by refarming 900 MHz to 4G (new step 15 Dec 2025) and uses Orange 3G roaming until 2028. Free has no 2G network of its own (2G via Orange roaming, so it follows Orange's 2G calendar). |
Confidence is high when the operator or the regulator states the date, medium when several independent sources agree, low otherwise. We recheck every month.
What it means for IoT devices on Free Mobile
- 3G keeps running for now: Free Mobile has announced no closing date.
- For new devices, choose 4G-based technologies: LTE Cat-1 bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where the network offers them.
- Foreign SIMs in France: permanent roaming is governed by the EU roaming regulation, which generally allows it under wholesale agreements between operators. Details on the France page.
An M2M.global IoT SIM is not tied to a single network in a country, and its data can reach your cloud without the internet through private delivery.
Other operators in France
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| Bouygues Telecom | Planned, 15 December 2026 | Planned, 2029 |
| Orange | Planned, 15 December 2026 | Planned, 2028 |
| SFR | Planned, 15 December 2026 | Planned, 2028 |
All operators and both rules for France: IoT connectivity in France. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When does Free Mobile switch off 3G in France?
Free Mobile has announced no date to switch off 3G, as of 26 October 2026. Arcep table: Free 3G end date not yet announced. Free is already reducing its own 3G sites by refarming 900 MHz to 4G (new step 15 Dec 2025) and uses Orange 3G roaming until 2028. Free has no 2G network of its own (2G via Orange roaming, so it follows Orange's 2G calendar).