en.Wedoany.com Reported - Free Mobile is gradually activating its 5G Standalone (SA) network on the 700 MHz band in multiple regions of France, following previous deployments in Paris and select test areas. Antenna hunters using the RNC Mobile app have detected active 5G SA 700 MHz cells in several locations, covering rural areas around Rennes, Bordeaux, Lyon, Nice, Lens, and Lille.

Three months after Free Mobile first activated 5G on the 2100 MHz band and launched 5G+ aggregation tests, the deployment of 5G SA on the 700 MHz band represents progress on another front. Previously, such activations were mainly concentrated in Paris, but new 5G SA cells have now appeared far beyond the initial test areas. In the Gironde department near Bordeaux, a community member captured a CID 700x signal at a site in Arveyres. The RNC Mobile map shows a growing number of compatible sites around Bordeaux. Some antenna hunters note that Free Mobile has begun activating a large number of 5G SA cells outside its regular test zones, with CID 700x coverage expanding.

These observations do not mean all users can immediately access 5G+ services on the 700 MHz band, but they indicate that Free Mobile is advancing its SA network deployment. The SA architecture, independent of 4G, is crucial for achieving multi-band aggregation, reducing latency, and optimizing performance. In March, the first 5G SA aggregation combination of the 700 MHz, 2100 MHz, and 3.5 GHz bands was seen in Paris. This new development shows Free Mobile is preparing for nationwide coverage expansion. The 700 MHz band, often called the "golden frequency" due to its long propagation distance and strong indoor penetration, is particularly suitable for covering rural areas. Previously, only Orange offered aggregation services on the 3.5 GHz and 700 MHz bands on its network.