Free ( SAS )

What Free ( SAS ) does

Free SAS is a French consumer and business telecommunications operator and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Iliad Group (Euronext Paris). Through two principal legal entities — Free SAS (fixed-line) and Free Mobile SAS (mobile) — the company provides fiber (FTTH), 5G/5G+, 4G/LTE, and Wi-Fi 7 connectivity to residential customers, small and medium businesses, large enterprises, and the public sector across mainland France and French overseas territories (Caraïbe, Réunion). Its core consumer proposition centers on the Freebox family of internet boxes (Ultra, Ultra Essentiel, Pop, Pop S, Révolution Light, Box 5G) bundled with the Free Mobile portfolio (Forfait Free Max, Forfait Free 5G+, Série Free, Forfait 2€) and the Free TV platform integrating major streaming services. All consumer plans are offered without commitment, with aggressive price points (mobile from €2/month, fiber from €29.99/month first year) that have defined the brand as a persistent value challenger to Orange, SFR, and Bouygues.

The technology stack includes proprietary Freebox hardware, an in-house IPTV and streaming aggregation platform, and a nationwide retail-and-online distribution network of more than 260 boutiques plus self-serve web signup. Free operates what it describes as France's largest 5G network by site count, with VoNR (5G+) voice and Wi-Fi 7 across flagship offerings. Free Pro extends the technology footprint into the enterprise segment with Freebox Pro (up to 8 Gbit/s symmetric, Wi-Fi 7, cybersecurity), Coms Pro unified communications, business mobile plans, and Solutions XPR covering cloud, SD-WAN/SASE, datacenter colocation, private 5G, cybersecurity, and IP telephony. Value-added services (Free mVPN, Le Chat Pro powered by Mistral AI, McAfee Sécurité, Cafeyn, Free Flex device leasing, Reprise mobile trade-in, eSIM Watch, Free Family bundles) round out the ecosystem.

Free's revenue model is dominated by recurring subscription fees across residential internet, mobile, business services, and managed solutions, supplemented by one-time hardware sales (smartphones, connected watches, accessories) and device financing/leasing. The company sells directly to consumers via free.fr and mobile.free.fr, through its boutique network, via the 3244 phone line, and to businesses through pro.free.fr plus a partner/reseller channel for Solutions XPR. As part of the Iliad Group, Free benefits from shared group infrastructure, multi-country scale (France, Italy, Poland), and consolidated capex, while operating as the group's primary French consumer and SMB brand.

Name

Free ( SAS )

Legal name

Free SAS

Website

https://free.fr

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Free SAS is a French consumer and business telecom operator and Iliad Group subsidiary, providing fiber, 5G/5G+, mobile, TV, and enterprise managed services to residential, SMB, and public-sector customers across mainland France and French overseas territories.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Telecommunications Services (Fixed Broadband and Mobile)

NAICS

Wired and Wireless Telecommunications (except Satellite) (5171), Wired Telecommunications Carriers (517111)

SIC

Communications Services, Nec (4899)

akta.pro primary industry

Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) & Secure SD-WAN (HDAIAFAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Managed SD‑WAN/SASE Connectivity (Enterprise WAN under Managed Connectivity) (HDAIAGAF), Secure Access Service Edge (SASE) & SSE (HDADABAB)

Keywords

• Fiber internet services
• Mobile telecommunications
• IPTV streaming platform
• Business telecom solutions
• 5G mobile network

Headquarters

HQ city

Paris, Île-de-France

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Operations

Revenue model

1. Residential Internet (Freebox): Monthly subscription revenue from residential fiber/ADSL/5G box services. Plans include Freebox Ultra, Pop, Révolution Light, and Box 5G, priced at promotional rates for the first year with standard rates thereafter. Revenue is recurring and subscription-based, supplemented by optional add-ons (Wi-Fi repeater, McAfee security, Cafeyn).
2. Mobile Subscriptions: Monthly subscription revenue from mobile plans including Forfait Free Max, Forfait Free 5G+, Série Free, and Forfait 2€. All plans are no-commitment (sans engagement), providing recurring revenue with customer flexibility. Additional revenue from optional services (eSIM Watch, Le Chat Pro/McAfee security).
3. Hardware Sales (Mobile Devices): Revenue from sale of smartphones (Apple, Samsung, Xiaomi, Honor, etc.) and connected watches (Apple Watch), including new, reconditioned devices and the Free Flex leasing program. One-time hardware purchase or device rental with purchase option.
4. Free Pro (Business Services): Enterprise internet (Freebox Pro at €39.99 HT/month), mobile plans (Forfait Mobile Free Pro 5G+ at €19.99 HT/month, Max at €29.99 HT/month), Coms Pro unified communications at €12.99 HT/month per user, and Solutions XPR cloud/network/cybersecurity services for businesses.
5. Streaming / TV Services: Bundled and à la carte access to streaming platforms (CANAL+, Disney+, Netflix, Prime, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV) through Free TV. Revenue shared with streaming partners or retained as commission through Free's TV platform.
6. XPR Enterprise Solutions: Cloud, network, datacenter, mobility, cybersecurity, and IP telephony solutions sold to enterprise and public sector customers under the XPR brand. Revenue from managed services and professional services engagements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Free SAS is a French telecommunications operator that sells fiber and 5G home internet (under the Freebox brand), mobile voice and data plans (under Free Mobile), IPTV/streaming services (Free TV), and integrated telecom solutions for businesses (Free Pro). It bundles broadband, mobile, TV/streaming, and value-added services such as VPN, AI assistant (Le Chat Pro by Mistral AI), and cybersecurity, with no long-term commitment and at competitive prices.

Product overview

Free (SAS) is a French telecommunications operator and subsidiary of Iliad Group offering a comprehensive portfolio of consumer and business services. The consumer offering centers on Freebox fiber/ADSL internet boxes (Freebox Ultra, Ultra Essentiel, Pop, Pop S, Révolution Light, Box 5G) paired with Free Mobile cellular plans (Free Max, Free 5G+, Série Free, Forfait 2€) and Free TV entertainment platform. Business services include Freebox Pro fiber, Coms Pro unified communications, Free Pro mobile plans with fleet management, and Solutions XPR (Cloud, Network, Datacenter, Mobility, Cybersecurity, Telephony). The ecosystem includes value-added services like Wi-Fi Repeater, McAfee Security, Cafeyn press subscription, Le Chat Pro AI assistant (Mistral AI), eSIM Watch option, and Free Family combo discounts. The company operates regional services through Free Caraïbe in Caribbean territories and maintains partnerships with major streaming platforms (Netflix, Disney+, Amazon Prime, CANAL+, Paramount+, HBO Max, Apple TV).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Freebox: Internet box and fiber optic offerings including Freebox Ultra, Freebox Pop, Freebox Révolution Light, and Box 5G
• Freebox Ultra
• Freebox Pop
• Free Max
• Free 5G+
• Série Free
• Forfait 2€
• Freebox Pro
• Coms Pro
• Solutions XPR

Products and services

• Freebox Ultra Flagship fiber internet box offering ultra-high-speed broadband (up to 8 Gbit/s), Wi-Fi 7, 8K TV compatibility, and comprehensive entertainment services with streaming platform integrations. Targeted at residential customers in France.
• Freebox Ultra Essentiel Essential variant of the flagship Freebox Ultra, offering high-speed fiber with Wi-Fi 7 and core TV/entertainment services at a more accessible price point for residential customers.
• Freebox Pop Mid-tier fiber internet box offering high-speed connectivity with TV services, VoD, and streaming integrations at €29.99/month for the first year (then €39.99/month). Targeted at residential customers.
• Freebox Pop S

Quantifiable outcome

• Up to 8 Gbit/s symmetric fiber speeds on Freebox Pro
• +2 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration15 records

AI capability7 records

Feature12 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• NetflixcoreTechnology or IntegrationNetflix content is available as part of Free TV's streaming service offerings, bundled with Freebox subscriptions. Free promotes Netflix as a key component of its TV entertainment ecosystem alongside Disney+, Prime, CANAL+, and other streaming platforms.
• Disney+coreTechnology or IntegrationDisney+ is integrated into Free TV's streaming platform and promoted as part of Freebox's entertainment bundle. Free highlights Disney+ as a key streaming partner alongside Netflix, Prime, and CANAL+.
• Amazon Prime (Prime Video)coreTechnology or IntegrationAmazon Prime (including Prime Video) is available on Free TV's platform as part of Free's streaming bundle, providing Freebox subscribers easy access to Prime content through the Free TV interface.
• CANAL+coreTechnology or IntegrationCANAL+ channels and TV by CANAL service are integrated into Free TV. Free also offers Ligue 1+ (CANAL+-branded football coverage) and Universal+ packages. Free TV and CANAL+ maintain deep integration including exclusive content and bundled pricing.
• Apple TVcoreTechnology or IntegrationApple TV app and Apple TV 4K hardware are both featured in Free's ecosystem. The Apple TV app is available on Free TV, and Free sells Apple TV 4K set-top boxes. Free also sells Apple iPhones and Apple Watches through its mobile storefront.
• SamsungcoreTechnology or IntegrationSamsung smartphones (Galaxy S26 series, Galaxy A series) are sold through Free's mobile storefront. Samsung Galaxy Watch and Samsung devices are compatible with Free's eSIM Watch option. Free promotes Samsung as a key device partner alongside Apple.
• Mistral AIcoreTechnology or IntegrationLe Chat Pro is Free's AI-powered virtual assistant for mobile subscribers, powered by Mistral AI — Europe's leading AI company. This is a strategic partnership to bring European AI capabilities to Free's consumer base. The service is available as an optional add-on for mobile subscribers.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• SFR (Altice France): SFR is one of France's four main telecom operators under Altice France, providing mobile, fiber, and TV services to consumers and businesses. SFR competes head-to-head with Free on price, network coverage, and bundled offerings in the French market.
• Bouygues Telecom: Bouygues Telecom is a major French mobile and fixed-line operator serving consumers and businesses. It is one of Free's primary competitors in the French quad-play market (mobile + internet + TV + content).
• Orange: Orange is France's incumbent telecom operator, offering mobile, fixed broadband, and enterprise services across consumer and B2B segments. It is Free's largest direct competitor in the French retail telecom market and shares the same mobile + fiber + TV + enterprise portfolio structure.

Broad incumbents

• Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile): Deutsche Telekom operates T-Mobile in Europe and the US, providing mobile, fixed broadband, and enterprise services. It shares Free's bundled consumer strategy and provides SD-WAN/SASE-style enterprise services under T-Systems, making it a broad incumbent peer.
• Vodafone: Vodafone is a major European mobile and fixed-line operator with extensive enterprise SD-WAN, IoT, and managed-services offerings. It overlaps with Free Pro in enterprise managed WAN services and represents a broader scale of telecom incumbent for comparison.
• Iliad Group: Iliad Group is Free's publicly-listed parent company and operates Free Mobile, Free Pro, and Free Caraïbe in France as well as mobile and fixed operations in Italy and Poland. While it owns Free, the group's broader multi-country footprint makes it a broader-incumbent peer for cross-market comparison.

Regional players

• Swisscom: Swisscom is Switzerland's incumbent telecom operator with mobile, fiber, TV, and enterprise cloud/SASE services. It is a regional peer comparable to Free in delivering bundled consumer quad-play plus enterprise managed WAN services, though focused on the Swiss market.
• Proximus: Proximus is Belgium's incumbent telecom operator offering mobile, fiber, TV, and enterprise ICT services. Although geographically focused on Belgium, it has a comparable mix of consumer mobile/broadband and enterprise cloud/SD-WAN services to Free Pro.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/free
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCzoLVwQrGOBlfzrma3FiJbg
• Facebookfacebook.com/FreeFrance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/free-sas
• Instagraminstagram.com/free.fr/?hl=fr
• TikToktiktok.com/@free.france

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Free ( SAS )