French mobile tariffs jump 40% amid SFR sale, Free’s 140 GB plan stays cheapest

Mobile operators in France have raised prices sharply in recent months. The weekly price‑per‑gigabyte index, which hovered at 12‑13 cents in Q1, climbed to 17‑18 cents by late April, reflecting an almost 40 % increase over the past year. The surge follows the announced sale of SFR, which is expected to reduce the number of network operators from four to three, tightening competition.

Despite the overall rise, three providers still offer the lowest rates: Lebara (based in the UK) at 3‑4 cents per gigabyte, YouPrice (an SFR partner) at under 5 cents, and a Bouygues‑affiliated MVNO. Free Mobile’s “Série Free” plan also increased by €1 to €11.99 per month, but remains the most affordable major offer, delivering 140 GB of 5G data, 30 GB of EU/DOM roaming, unlimited calls, an integrated VPN service, free access to Free TV+, and a complimentary eSIM watch option.