en.Wedoany.com Reported - France is gradually shutting down its copper network, leaving approximately 2.9 million households still relying on ADSL or VDSL2 broadband facing migration. In areas where fiber optics are not yet available, residential 4G/5G boxes based on mobile networks have become a viable alternative. ADSL users have long been constrained by technical bottlenecks, with download speeds around 20 Mb/s and upload speeds around 1 Mb/s, limitations that become particularly evident during streaming, cloud backups, or when multiple devices are online simultaneously.
The copper network carrying ADSL signals is being phased out municipality by municipality. Once the access node affecting a user is impacted, operators will notify them several months in advance, allowing users to cancel their contracts free of charge. Before seeking alternatives, users are advised to first verify their eligibility for fiber optic access, as fiber may have already been laid on their street without their knowledge. If fiber is still unavailable, a 5G box is worth considering.
A 5G box is not simply a mobile hotspot but a true fixed router. Its built-in 5G antenna is far more powerful than a phone's antenna, is powered by a permanent power supply, and can cover an entire home with strong Wi-Fi, supporting dozens of devices. This device requires no technician installation, no cabling, and activation is typically completed in less than ten minutes after receiving the device.
Compared to ADSL, the performance improvement of a 5G box is significant. At theoretical maximum speeds, downloading a 5 GB HD movie takes about 35 minutes on ADSL, but only 40 seconds on a 5G box; downloading an 80 GB console game takes about 9 hours on ADSL, but only 10 minutes on a 5G box. The improvement in upload speed is most noticeable in daily use, enabling smooth online backups, remote work file sharing, and video calls. Depending on the model, four consumer-oriented 5G boxes offer upload speeds between 130 and 250 Mb/s, compared to less than 1 Mb/s for ADSL. Latency on 5G boxes is typically between 20 and 50 milliseconds, comparable to or better than ADSL.
Two limitations should be understood before subscribing. Actual speed is highly dependent on the 5G coverage at the user's specific address; the figures above are theoretical maximums. Unlike dedicated fiber optics that reach the home directly, a 5G box shares the capacity of the mobile antenna with other users in the area, so during peak evening hours, speeds may decrease due to network load—this is one of the main differences from fiber. Secondly, all current 5G box plans do not include a TV decoder; watching television requires a smart TV, an external device (such as Apple TV, Chromecast, Fire Stick), or the operator's application.
Several operators offer a variety of 5G box options. RED's RED Box 5G is priced at €25.99 per month with no contract, and its 150 Mb/s upload speed and Wi-Fi 6 are sufficient for most household needs. Free's Free Box 5G is €29.99 per month (first year, then €39.99), supports Wi-Fi 7, and allows watching TV channels via the Free TV app, making it suitable as a replacement for traditional internet boxes with TV functionality. Orange's Orange 5G+ Home is €42.99 per month, supports Wi-Fi 7, and leverages the 5G+ network (3.5 GHz band) for maximum speed, ideal for heavy usage; users under 26 can enjoy a discounted price of €29.99, and the operator also offers a "satisfaction or refund" first-month trial.
