Network compatibility Free Mobile
Free Mobile, launched in 2012 by Xavier Niel, disrupted the French market by halving mobile plan prices. As the fourth network operator in France with over 15 million subscribers, Free stands out through generous data allowances and early adoption of 5G Standalone. This guide details the 4G/5G frequency bands used by Free Mobile.
Updated March 2026 Β· ~5 min read
Free Mobile France frequency bands
Free Mobile holds a smaller frequency portfolio than the three legacy operators, but compensates with aggressive 5G deployment and roaming agreements with Orange for 2G/3G.
| Technology | Band | Frequency | Primary use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | B3 | 1800 MHz | Primary band, extended coverage |
| 4G LTE | B7 | 2600 MHz | High capacity, dense areas |
| 4G LTE | B28 | 700 MHz | Rural and indoor coverage |
| 5G NR | n78 | 3500 MHz | Primary 5G, high throughput |
| 5G NR | n258 | 26 GHz | mmWave, ultra-high localized throughput |
Free Mobile benefits from a roaming agreement with Orange for 2G/3G in areas not covered by its own network, progressively reduced as Free deploys its own sites.
How to check your phone's compatibility
Dial *#06# on your phone. The first 8 digits form the TAC (Type Allocation Code) that identifies your model.
Enter your IMEI or TAC in our TAC Lookup tool to get the list of frequency bands supported by your device.
Your device should support at minimum B3 + B28 for proper 4G coverage on Free. For 5G, band n78 is required.
Compatible smartphones for Free Mobile (4G + 5G)
These devices support all 4G and 5G bands used by Free Mobile France:
B3/B7/B28 + n78 Β· Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
B3/B7/B28 + n78 Β· A17 Pro
B3/B7/B28 + n78 Β· Tensor G3
B3/B7/B28 + n78 Β· Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
B3/B7/B28 + n78 Β· Snapdragon 8 Gen 3
B3/B7/B28 + n78 Β· Exynos 1480
Free Mobile network specifics
Launched in January 2012 by Xavier Niel, Free Mobile halved mobile plan prices in France. Its entry forced the three incumbent operators to overhaul their pricing grids.
Free is one of the first European operators to deploy 5G Standalone (SA), eliminating dependency on the 4G core. This native 5G architecture enables network slicing and ultra-low latency.
Free Mobile stands out with very generous data plans. The 5G plan includes unlimited data in France, a substantial roaming allowance, and unlimited calls to over 110 destinations.
In areas not yet covered by its own network, Free Mobile benefits from a roaming agreement with Orange (2G/3G). This agreement is being progressively reduced as Free densifies its own network.
Frequently asked questions. Free Mobile
What 4G bands does Free Mobile use?
Does Free Mobile offer 5G Standalone?
Is my phone compatible with Free 5G?
Will a phone bought abroad work on Free Mobile?
Does Free Mobile offer unlimited data?
Other carriers
4G/5G bands and compatibility check.
4G/5G bands and SFR coverage.
4G/5G bands for Bouygues Telecom.
4G/5G bands across Africa.
Identify the bands supported by your device.
All our IMEI tools and guides in one place.
HiCellTek measures signal quality band by band (RSRP, RSRQ, SINR) directly from an Android smartphone.