Not sure how to choose a France data plan? Whether you are flying direct, transiting, or arriving by European rail, getting online in France is an essential part of the trip! For many people France is a genuinely dreamy destination, and it is often the first stop on many travellers' first trip to Europe — especially the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, and the Arc de Triomphe, all sights we have seen countless times in photos and videos, making it an integral part of any European trip. With Europe's well-developed rail network, getting to France from neighbouring countries is genuinely convenient. Feeling the pull of a France trip already? Let's look at how to choose a France data SIM!

Most people travelling to France do not stop at just one country — often combining it with a few neighbouring European destinations. So how do you choose a data SIM, given how large Europe is and how band support varies between carriers? Generally, any phone that supports Taiwan's bands should work fine. Here are the key points to help you pick the right plan easily!

Within the EU, cross-border data roaming is genuinely convenient, and even though telecom infrastructure is well developed, some remote areas may still have weak or no signal, and switching countries within Europe can sometimes mean a brief delay before your connection kicks back in — that is completely normal. France has four main carriers: Orange, SFR, Bouygues, and Free. All four have gradually rolled out 5G, though it is currently limited to small parts of a handful of cities and not yet fully built out, so this article focuses mainly on 4G/3G when discussing each carrier.

An overview of France's 4 major carriers

Orange

Orange is France's largest carrier, part of the Orange Group and formerly known as France Télécom S.A. It plans to launch a 5G core network across six European countries by 2023. Beyond France, Orange is also a major carrier in the UK, with coverage spanning all major tourist attractions and transport routes, and all prepaid SIMs support 4G/LTE service.

SFR

SFR is France's second network historically, and a substantial carrier in its own right — arguably Orange's biggest competitor. According to ARCEP, SFR's 3G/4G coverage reaches 99%, slightly ahead of Orange, though its roaming SIM offerings are not as varied as some other carriers.

Bouygues

Bouygues is France's third-largest carrier, primarily using the 1800MHz band for 4G/LTE — a bit different from the other carriers — but it still performs well on coverage, reaching over 90% of the population. Its local plans are less friendly for cross-border roaming, making it a better fit for anyone staying in France long-term.

Free

Over the past decade, Free Mobile has swept through France's telecom market with rock-bottom pricing and fresh marketing tactics. It is not just a hit with locals — it is also well known among students and workers living in France, and is the go-to carrier for many people studying or working there. It also partners with carriers in over 65 countries worldwide, offering great convenience for anyone travelling across borders.

Bands supported by France's carriers

Here are the main 3G/4G bands used by France's carriers. Given how large Europe is, the more bands your phone supports, the better — check which bands your device supports before choosing a plan!

Carrier Orange SFR Bouygues Free
Coverage High High High High
Price High Medium Medium Low
Bands Band 1
Band 3
Band 7
Band 20
Band 28 		Band 1
Band 3
Band 7
Band 20
Band 28 		Band 1
Band 3
Band 7
Band 20
Band 28 		Band 1
Band 3
Band 7
Band 28

Overall, all four French carriers perform well on both coverage and network quality, though there is admittedly a noticeable gap between big cities and rural areas — when I travelled around France, I certainly noticed the connection quality varied a lot from place to place, which naturally also depends on the bands your own phone supports!

Most Taiwanese phones support 2600MHz, which happens to be the main band used by France's carriers, but we still recommend checking your device's supported bands beforehand for a smoother trip!

Coverage maps for France's carriers

Orange

SFR

Bouygues

Free

Overall, France's four carriers offer very similar performance in terms of signal and band support, with 4G/LTE coverage reaching nearly the entire country — a genuinely great experience for users, whether travelling independently or self-driving around France!

Further reading:
>> A guide to choosing a Europe data SIM: comparing SIM cards, pocket Wi-Fi and roaming, plus a fast, affordable pick
>> 2024 guide to travel inconvenience and travel accident insurance, for anyone worried about flight delays
>> 2023 roundup of credit cards offering free airport transfers — 16 banks including Taishin, CTBC and Cathay United covered