Free Launches Nationwide 5G Standalone Network and VoNR Services in France

French operator Free Mobile, part of Iliad, has announced the launch of what it calls France’s first 5G 3.5 GHz Standalone Access (SA) network on a national scale. With over 20,000 5G sites in service, including nearly 7,000 on the 3.5 GHz band, Free now covers approximately 95 percent of the French population, the operator said in a recent statement.

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Free Mobile Launches 5G SA Network

Free claims it currently operates the largest 5G mobile network in France, available in nearly 10,500 municipalities. 5G SA is a 5G network that uses fully dedicated standalone infrastructure and does not rely on any 4G infrastructure, unlike 5G NSA (Non-Standalone Access), which is built on existing 4G core network infrastructure with 5G added on top, the operator explained.

“Free is announcing that it has deployed 5G SA (Standalone Access) on the 3.5 GHz frequencies of its public network on a national scale. By doing so, it has become the first mobile operator in France to offer this technology to its subscribers,” Free said in a statement.

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Enhanced Mobile Communication with 5G SA

The operator said 5G SA is the final phase of 5G network development. The new 5G SA network enhances mobile communication by providing faster speeds, lower latency, and higher reliability, independent of 4G infrastructure. Its deployment will allow the full potential of 5G technology to be realised through new services and applications in various domains.