The French Mobile Market has three Mobile Network Operators(MNO)s, of which, only Bouygues Telecom, Orange and SFR and a Fourth, Free Telecom which is scheduled to launch in 2012, however only the latter offer access and origination on mobile telecommunication networks to Resellers and MVNO. Presently there is a total of 51 Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNO) and 6 BR Resellers. Based on our research, we have identified that Bouygues Telecom has 15 MVNO Agreements, Orange France has 19 MVNO and 6 BRs Agreements and finally SFR has 20 MVNO Agreement.

View a Brief Overview on the French Telecommunications Overview or Access the following publications; French mobile users up 4.9% on year, or alternatively French Mobile Data Report.

Download: Arcep, 2009 Annual Report. For further information go-to Arcep – The French Regulator. Alternatively you can view some of our References & Resources.

France MNO Companies (+33)
Bouygues Telecom
Orange France
SFR

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Current France MVNO/MVNE Companies

This is an updated and fairly comprehensive listing for MVNOs (Mobile Virtual Network Operators) in France today. We have listed most known and Active French MVNO/SP & ESP companies (where possible). If you have updated information about the companies listed below, or are not listed then please use the following form.

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MVNO Listings

01net.com
Call in Europe has developed the white brand services for 01net.com
BR/MVNO; Network: SFR; MVNE: Call in Europe; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Acropolis Telecom
Acropolis Telecom SA is a communication services provider that specializes in Internet telephony and holds an MVNO licence, allowing it to bundle mobile into its general package. It is the first MVNO to start using 07 mobile numbers that can be used by clients to choose symbolic or mnemonic numbers, and has 1,200 clients with 45,000 end-users in France and elsewhere in Europe. It offers intranet and extranet telephone solutions including voice based telephony, messaging, online audio-visual conferences, as well as internet access, Local Area Network (LAN), and Wide Area Network (WAN). In addition, the company provides security applications such as firewalls, filters, anti-virus and anti-SPAM, and intrusion detectors. It caters to clients in London, the United Kingdom; Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Frankfurt, Germany. The company’s partners are Cegetel, LDCom, Altitude Telecom, T Systems, and France Telecom. Acropolis Telecom, also known as InitialesOnline, was founded in 2001 and is based in Bagnolet, France.
MVNO; Network: TBC; Services: TBC; Status: TBC

Afone Mobile
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Antenne Reunion Mobile
Regional broadcaster Antenne Reunion launches its mobile service over the Orange Reunion Network.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Auchan Télécom a.k.a. A Mobile
French retail group Auchan launched its mobile phone service over SFR’s network on 16 October 2006. Auchan has a partnership with Comarch telecom for billing, customer registration, self care, deposit management and other services.
MVNO; Network: SFR; MVNE: Comarch; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

ASSE Mobile
Brand Reseller for FC Association Sportive Saint Etienne.
BR; Networks: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Bazile Telecom
Bazile Telecom’s story began in 2005 with a simplified mobile phone, the Prestige Bazile. This mobile phone had no screen nor keyboard just a single button. The phone has an associated services available 24 hours / 24. In July 2009, Bazile Telecom became the first dedicated mobile telephone operator to senior citizens in France .Since December 2009, Bazile Telecom offers a range of services dedicated to seniors, all based on the combination of a simplified telephone (Bazile, or Doro handsets).
MVNO; Networks: Orange; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Bernardtapie
Call in Europe has developed white brand services for Bernardtapie.com
BR/MVNO; Network: SFR; MVNE: Call in Europe; Services: Unknown; Status: TBC

Breizh Mobile
MVNO from the French retailer OMER Telecom / The Phone House with an MVNO agreement with Orange MVNO services in Brittany and Loire-Atlantique regions, signed May 2004. See Carphone Warehouse’s corporate operations overview that includes it’s international SP and MVNO ventures.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Budget Mobile
Budget Mobile is aimed at consumers based in France who regularly phone abroad.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

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Call in Europe
Owners of Zero Forfait and Acts as an MVNE.
MVNO/MVNE/Roaming; Network: SFR & Various; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Carrefour Mobile
French hypermarkets group Carrefour has launched its MVNO service, Carrefour Mobile, using Orange France network, on 8 November 2006. The retailer will offer the service at its 218 superstores across the country.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Casino Mobile
Casino Mobile, is a subsidiary company of Omea Telecom.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

CashStore Mobile
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; Services: Prepaid; Status: Unknown

CIC Mobile
CIC MOBILE is a 90/10 joint venture between Credit Mutuel-CIC and NRJ group claims first place among MVNOs in share of customer additions in 2010.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Ciel Telecom
French fixed-line operator Ciel Telecom, which targets the SMEs and independent professionals, has signed an agreement with mobile network operator SFR to become an MVNO on its network
MVNO Network: SFR & Various; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

C le Mobile
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Cofidis Mobile
BR/MVNO; Network: SFR; MVNE: NRJ Mobile; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Connexion Verte
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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CMC
See Previous French MVNO Companies

Comarch
Comarch is a conglomerate Teleco Solution & Vendor Provider, with OSS & MVNE/O Solutions. See MVNE Companies for alternative MVNE Companies.
MVNE/OSS; Network: Various; Services: MVNE; Status: Active

Coriolis Telecom
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Credit Mutuel Mobile
Credit Mutual Mobile is a 90/10 joint venture between Credit Mutuel-CIC and NRJ group claims first place among MVNOs in share of customer additions in 2010.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Dartybox
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Live

Debitel SA
Debitel France S.A. offers mobile voice telephony, fixed-line telephony, mobile messaging services, and Internet and supplementary services. It provides orange services, communication procurement management, services activation, and payments arrangement services. The company was founded in 1993 and is based in Chaville, France. As of February 2, 2008, Debitel France S.A. operates as a subsidiary of SFR. See Simplicime.

Diaspofone
See Previous French MVNO Companies

Elayatel
Elayatel is a new alternative operator in France that offers a mobile phone without commitment and particularly innovative, offering its users through a tip innovative VoIP roaming free in a hundred countries worldwide.
MVNO; Network: Unknown; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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E.Leclerc Mobile
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Eurokeitai
Eurokeitai is the only French mobile phone operator dedicated to the Japanese community. Transatel is responsible for both technical and commercial operations.
MVNO; Networks: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Pre+Postpaid; Status: Active

Fnac Mobile
Fnac services will distributed at 67 Fnacs in France and Offer 4 different rate plans and 10 handset models.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Fluiid Mobile
Rumoured Assets sold to Darty

Futur Telecom
MVNO; Networks: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Mobile France Loisirs
France Loisirs, a leading book distributors in France, sold to Bertelsmann in the spring by a U.S. investment fund, diversifying its activities. Reportedly, the group plans to launch its own brand of mobile phone. The service first will be sold through France Loisirs‘ catalogue and online, then in France Loisirs stores in northern France from the start of 2012. Call in Europe will develop the white brand services.
BR/MVNO; Network: SFR; MVNE: Call in Europe; Services: Prepaid; Status: Scheduled

Girondins mobile
Brand Reseller for FC Girondins de Bordeaux.
BR; Networks: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Horizon Mobile
See Previous French MVNO Companies

IC Telecom
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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Keyyo Mobile
Keyyo Mobile purchased Mobeel in 2010 and rebranded the service to Keyyo Mobile which targets SME & Business customers.
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

La Poste Mobile
The French Post Office announced that it will become an MVNO Operator in 2011. See Article: La Poste – MVNO
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Soft-launch – New 16-05-11

Lebara Mobile
Lebara Mobile is a Pan European MVNO Service Provider with its HQ in London, UK. To view a Company Profile please use the following Resource.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Le French Mobile
MVNO service targeted (in English) to visitors coming to France for 6-24 months (such as foreign students). It offers attractive local prices while in France and attractive tariffs to call back to one’s home country.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Legos
Legos is an operator specialised in the provision of enhanced communication services. Currently this includes Voice over IP (VoIP), Voice Mail, and visiophony. Its founders are specialists in providing multi-services over telecommunication networks (Triple Play). Legos was recently rewarded by RNRT & ANR, a public R&D fund for the development of SIP service in the mobile environment, in partnership with a French virtual mobile operator (MVNO), and a university R&D laboratory.

Lyca Mobile
FULL MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active – New 04-07-11

M6 Mobile
French national TV channel, focus on youngsters with music, TV reality and US soap operas, #2 or 3 depending on TV programs with reportedly 1.5 Million customers.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Mobeel Rebranded to Keyyo Mobile
Please see Kenyo Mobile Listed above.

Mobiho
Mobiho is a prepaid offer launched in France by Midi Telecom in late 2007. It provides a very easy to use Sim-pack with aggressive prices for international calls.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

MobiSud
Moroco Telecom recently sold Mobisud to Belgacom
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Neuf Cegetel
Neuf Cegetel is a French wireline telecom services provider and a MVNO offering different services to consumers, enterprises and wholesale customers, ranking number two in the country (based on annual revenues). It was legally established in 2005 following the completion of the merger between Neuf Telecom (formerly known as LDCOM) and Cegetel. As of June 2008, the company is a wholly owned subsidiary of SFR.
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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NormAction
NormAction is a switchless fixed telecom service provider active in France and Belgium. Normaction has launched its MVNO in Belgium in January 2005 and is outsourcing to Transatel most of its technical activities including airtime procurement.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Numéricable
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

NRJ Mobile
Specialised (MVNO) Provider offering pre-paid and post-paid services, focusing on youth market, via Transatel. NRJ is the most popular radio in Belgium for young people (from 12 to 24-year old). NRJ launched its MVNO in February 2006 outsourcing all technical and commercial operations to Transatel.
FULL MVNO; Networks: Orange & SFR; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Olympique Lyonnais
Brand Reseller for FC Olympique Lyonnais.
BR; Networks: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

OM mobile
Brand Reseller for FC; Olympique du Marseille.
BR; Networks: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Omea Telecom aka Omer Mobile
MVNO for the consumer market. Omer Telecom operated 3 MVNOs & available throughout the metropolitan French territory: Virgin Mobile France, Breizh Mobile , Tele2 Mobile and Mobile Casino. In 2006, the assets of Omer Telecom are integrated into a new company Omer Telecom Limited, under English law, jointly owned by Virgin and Carphone Warehouse

Ortel Mobile
Ortel Mobile reported in August that they have signed a contract with Orange and will migrate service to the network in late 2011.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom & Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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Phenix Mobile
Budget Telecom also operates the Phenix Mobile brand, which targets prepaid international calls for immigrants. It has 20,000 customers paying € 15 a month, taking the group’s total subscribers to 30,000.
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active – New MVNO, launched in Sep, 2010

Primus Mobile
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Prixtel
The MVNO compares the subscription offers of six operators (Orange, SFR, Bouygues, Tele2, Auchan and Virgin) to charge the lowest price for each of its customers’ monthly consumption.
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

PSG Mobile
Brand Reseller for FC; Paris Saint Germain.
BR; Networks: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

RCL Mobile
Brand Reseller for FC Racing Club de Lens.
BR; Networks: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Saint Hubert Mobile
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

SCT Télécom
MVNO; Networks: Bouygues Telecom & Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

SIM+
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Simplicime
Previously known as MVNO Simpleo, changed its name to Simplicime in 2009 and is a sub-brand of Debitel France S.A., which operates as a subsidiary of SFR.
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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simyo
Pre-paid, low cost, SIM-only MVNO launched. Owned 100% by KPN Mobile. Started in Germany, later roll-out in Belgium, Netherlands, and Spain. To view a full Overview on simyo, please use the following link.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

Sisteer
Sisteer is a French MVNE Service provider which was established in 2002, with its HQ in Paris. Sisteer to date has launched 25 brands world wide and claims to be a leading French MVNE Company. See MVNE Companies for alternative MVNE Companies.
MVNE; Network: Various; Services: MVNE; Status: Active

Stella Telecom
MVNO; Networks: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active – NEW 15-06-11

Symacom
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Système U
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Unknown; Status: Unknown

Talktel Mobile
Owned by Budget Mobile.
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active – New MVNO, launched in Sep, 2010

Tele2
See Previous French MVNO Companies

Ten Mobile
IM-based MVNO offering unlimited MSN Messenger and email services for consumers. Ten Mobile is a subsidiary of Orange.
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

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TF1
See Previous French MVNO Companies

Transatel
Transatel is a “Mobile Enabler” (MVNE) dedicated to delivering value to mobile users, mobile service providers (MVNO) and GSM operators (MNO) and has a strategic relationship with Orange France. See MVNE Companies or view our Company Profile on Transatel. In France, apart from its regular MVNE Service, Transatel has its own local MVNO service to support its Cross Boarder Product.
MVNO/MVNE; Network: Orange & Bouygues Telecom; Services MVNE & Prepaid; Status: Active

U Mobile
MVNO; Network: Orange; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Universal Music Mobile
Universal Music Mobile is a trademark license from a partnership between Universal Music and Bouygues Telecom which launched in France on 25 August 2004.
MVNO; Networks: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Virgin Mobile
Virgin Mobile is the UK’s leading mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) with more than four million customers and 2 Million customers in France. Omer Telecom Limited is the owner of Virgin Mobile. Please see description above. In June, 2011 Virgin Mobile announced new agreement for a Full MVNO service on SFR’s network.
Full MVNO; Networks: Orange & SFR; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

Zemobile
See Previous French MVNO Companies

Zéro Forfait
Owned by Call in Europe.
Low cost MVNO, not a prepaid not a plan, you pay only for what you use with no commitment, at low cost rates.
MVNO; Network: SFR; Services: Prepaid; Status: Active

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Previous French MVNO Companies

Ay Yidiz
Sub-brand belonging to the KPN Group. This service is a specialised service for users to Call France-Turkey Brand was terminated before September 1, 2010.
MVNO: Networks: Bouygues Telecom; Services: Pre+postpaid; Status: Active

CMC
See Previous French MVNO Companies
Former Service Provider acquired by Carphone Warehouse French Subsidiary Phone House

Diaspophone
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom;

Horizon Mobile
Telecom Italia France has launched an MVNO called Horizon Mobile. The new prepaid service operator is targeting all ethnic communities in France, be they from North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa, the Indian Ocean, Eastern Europe, South America, etc.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel

TF1
Specialised (MVNO) Provider; TF1 Mobile was a trademark license  from a partnership between TF1 and Bouygues Telecom  in France and was launched May 2, 2006. However since January 19, 2007, TF1 Mobile is no longer sold. Former subscribers can maintain their service but is now managed by Bouygues Telecom.
MVNO; Network: Bouygues Telecom

Tele2
MVNO; Network: Orange

Zemobile
Brand was terminated before April 4, 2010
MVNO: Networks: Bouygues Telecom; MVNE: Transatel

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France Telecommunications Market

French MVNOs saw a steep rise in subscribers in the last few months with an 11.3 percent rise from September to December 2010, compared to 4.4 percent a year earlier, and 12.1 percent growth between December 2010 and March 2011. Arcep’s quarterly monitor found that MNOs lost 524,000 net subscribers in the first quarter, while MVNOs added 570,000. As previously reported, MVNOs’ market share rose to 8.4 percent in the period after staying at approximately 5 percent for several years. See Arcep Q1’11 Results

Orange France reported a solid showing in its French mobile business in the first quarter, helping it to offset losses in its legacy fixed business and protect its market leadership in mobile. The success was linked to a strong focus on higher-value contract and smartphone customers; a growing MVNO business; and the bundling of mobile with other service offerings.

The France Telecom-owned operator still derives around half of its total group revenue from France. In the first quarter, total French revenue fell 2.5 percent to EUR5.6 billion, a decline attributed to a 4.9 percent revenue decline at its fixed business. However, mobile revenue rose 2 percent to EUR2.7 billion and now accounts for 47.6 percent of its total French revenue, up 2.1 percentage points from the same period a year ago. The highlight at the mobile unit was a EUR128 million increase in non-voice revenue, which more than compensated for a EUR92 million decline in voice income. Meanwhile, fixed-line revenue was hit by ongoing PSTN line losses, which accelerated over the year and resulted in a 13.6 percent drop in traditional fixed-line service revenue. To continue reading an analysis of Orange please press here

Brief: by BMI (excerpt) – The France Telecommunications Report for Q310 contains an analysis of the latest financial and operational data as released by the regulator Arcep and the country’s major telecoms service providers. At the time of writing, Arcep had released overall figures for the mobile sector up to Q110 and for the fixed sector up to Q409. The incumbent operator France Telecom, along with alternative operators such as SFR, Bouygues Telecom and Iliad, have also published their key performance indicators for the first three months of 2010.

The mobile sector is the most active this quarter with the allocation of the two remaining 3G licences to France Telecom’s Orange and SFR. It has also seen the entrance of two new operators into the country’s small but fast growing mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) sector. March 2010 saw the launch of KPN’s Ortel Mobile over Bouygues Telecom’s network. And in May 2010, UK-based international mobile operator Lebara Mobile launched its operations in France also over Bouygues Telecom’s network. According to Arcep, MVNO subscriptions in France increased 25.8% year-on-year (y-o-y) to reach 3.64mn at the end of March 2010.

Meanwhile, BMI data for the overall mobile sector, including MVNOs, show that mobile subscriptions in France increased 5.4% y-o-y to reach 60.558mn by March 2010. However, some thorny issues remain unresolved at the time of writing, chief of which is the inclusion of new mobile operator Free Mobile in a network sharing agreement reached by the incumbent mobile operators in March 2010. Reports from local French media point to a reluctance by the some of the existing operators to include Iliad, increasing the likelihood for an intervention by the regulator, and a possible transfer of the case to anti-trust authorities. Data from the three major broadband service providers show that competition in the sector is becoming more intense with SFR gaining the upper hand. SFR regained second position in the market by reporting a total of 4.592mn subscribers in Q110, 88,000 more than Iliad for the same period. BMI notes that this is the first time SFR has reported more broadband subscribers than Iliad since Q308.

The French market finally has a DVB-H licensee. In April 2010, the French audio visual authority, the Conseil superieur de l’audiovisuel (CSA), issued a licence to MVNO Virgin Mobile and the transmitter company TDF to offer a mobile TV service in France. The major operators had been reluctance to secure the licence, a move that may not be unconnected with the seeming underperformance of the service as a revenue earner for operators in other markets. The service is due to launch in 2011 and Virgin Mobile will be hopeful that it receives a warmer welcome in France than in other countries in the region where operators have been forced to give up their licences due to slow subscriber uptake. This quarter, France has remained in the second place in BMI’s Business Environment Ratings despite seeing lower Telecoms Market scores owing to falling ARPUs.

Link to Report

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References & Resources

French mobile users up 4.9% on year
Telecommunications observatory (mobile market) in France – published Nov’10
Arcep, 2009 Annual Report

Nokia Siemens Network; Connectivity Series; French Mobile Data Report.

View: Consultation Method Service Prices for Mobile. – July’10 (French). In this document, ARCEP describes a method for measuring the price of mobile calling services. This method was established in tandem with stakeholders, both the authors of previous efforts to measure the price of these services and operators in mainland France (MNOs and MVNOs).

An initial application of the method described in this document, and amended according to input received from stakeholders, will be the focus of a document that will be published once the public consultation has come to a close. It will concern the evolution of the price of mobile calling service over the past several years in Metropolitan France.

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