Paris (AFP)

After its competitors SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Orange, the operator Free announced on Tuesday the launch of its 5G mobile network via "5,255 active sites already covering nearly 40% of the French population", while some large cities are demanding a moratorium on this technology.

With this level of deployment, Free claims the "largest 5G mobile network in France which covers both rural and urban areas," he said in a statement.

The operator relies mainly on the frequencies of the 700 MHz band, coupled with those of the 3.5 GHz band, the main band of 5G, acquired during the auctions last October.

"By using low frequencies (700 MHz) for coverage and high frequencies (3.5 GHz) for speeds, the Free network operates optimally. This is also the technical choice made by all operators. when deploying 3G and 4G, "says Free.

Like SFR, Bouygues Telecom, and Orange, Free has communicated its 5G consumer tariff offers, claiming "the only package that includes 5G at no extra cost", unlike its competitors.

For Freebox Pop subscribers, the subscription price will be 9.99 euros per month, and 15.99 euros per month for holders of other Freeboxes.

After having paid 2.789 billion euros to the State to seize "blocks" auctioned in early October, operators can enjoy their 5G frequencies since November 18.

However, they remain subject to administrative procedures linked to technical authorizations to be filed with the National Frequency Agency (ANFR) and to requests for information from town halls.

However, several green or left-wing mayors of large cities, notably in Lille or Grenoble, have declared themselves in favor of a moratorium until the publication scheduled for spring 2021 of a report from the National Health Security Agency (Anses) .

In Paris, the City Council is due to debate the conclusions of the citizens' conference on 5G on Wednesday morning.

On this occasion, the executive, which refused any moratorium, will specify the contours of its strategy for the implementation of 5G.

While 5G promises to eventually offer up to 10 times faster speed, operators are counting primarily on its launch to manage the increase in traffic and avoid saturation of their mobile networks.

© 2020 AFP