Here we go again, Free has asked Orange to extend the 2G and 3G roaming contract that has bound the two operators since 2011 (the former troublemaker in the telecom landscape launched at the start of the year next). A contract already renewed twice, the last dating back to 2020 and it must end at the end of this year.
Orange has responded positively “at the request of Free, without specifying the amount of this agreement which fueled the activity” operator services of the company. This amounted to 5.3 billion euros last year, without knowing the place taken by the roaming agreement with Free.
Ultimately, the decision rests with Arcep, the regulator having so far given the green light to this agreement. The echoes relate that the two competitors, SFR and Bouygues Telecom, do not see things in a good light.
In their eyes, if the agreement could be agreed eleven years ago when Free Mobile launched without a network or almost, today this is no longer the case. The operator is now at the head of a solid 3G network, with a number of antennas almost identical to those of SFR and Bouygues Telecom. On the other hand, Free Mobile has hardly invested in its 2G network, it has less than 400 antennas against nearly 20,000 for its competitors.
The latter object that Free could switch its 2G customers to 3G or 4G. The number of 2G customers is very low, says Free Mobile. If the extension of the agreement is accepted by Arcep, it will be short-lived, at least for 2G: Orange has in fact planned to cut its 2G network in 2025 (2028 for 3G).
Orange has its 2G and 3G shutdown schedule
.
[related_posts_by_tax taxonomies=”post_tag”]
The post Free Mobile wants to extend its 2G/3G roaming contract with Orange appeared first on Gamingsym.