SFR, Mobile Phone and Internet Provider in France

SFR is one of the main telecommunications providers in France. It is the only operator to have both a DSL, FTTH (Fiber Optic) and FTTB (Fiber Coaxial or cable) network. SFR offers one of the largest catalogues of internet and mobile phone offers among internet providers in France. Find out everything you need to know about SFR here, from how to sign up for an SFR box offer or mobile phone plan, to how to reach SFR customer service and more.

About SFR in France

SFR (Société française du radiotéléphone) was created in 1987 by the Compagnie Générale des Eaux (which later became known as Vivendi) and soon became a major actor in the French mobile phone market. The company entered the landline telephone market when it deregulated in 1997 and has been offering internet plans since 2007. In 2014 SFR was bought by cable operator and telecommunications services company Numericable, which led to the creation of the Numericable-SFR group owned by Altice. Finally, in April 2016, the Numericable-SFR group disappeared uperating now under the SFR Group.

SFR offers include Internet plans, mobile phone plans, prepaid SIM cards, as well as phone and internet bundles + the option of Television or SFR TV.

In 2011 SFR launched a low-cost brand, RED by SFR, through which it offers no-contract mobile phone and internet plans (sans engagement).

• SFR is a key player in the French telecoms market (figures as of 2021)
• More than 10.9 billion € of turnover declared in 2020
• 25 million subscribers
• First telecommunications operator to offer 3G, 4G, and 5G in France
• SFR 4G network covers 99.7% of the population in France
• Launched 5G in Nice, the first French city covered by 5G in November 2020
• SFR Fibre Optic coverage for more than 21 million homes

SFR Internet Network Coverage

SFR offers broadband internet access via ADSL over a large part of the country. The shortest lines (less than 1 km) may also be eligible for SFR VDSL or VDSL2, changes to ADSL. In VDSL2, the downstream speed can theoretically reach 70Mbits/s against 8Mbits/s for the upstream speed.

What is the difference between SFR (FTTH) and (FTTB) fibre offers?

SFR has developed its own fibre optic (FTTH) network. In June 2020, more than 16 million homes were covered by very high speed (FTTH and FTTB) from SFR in France.

FTTH offers (Fiber Box), deliver the fastest speeds among all the technologies deployed by SFR. However, the majority of very high speed SFR customers are not connected to Fibre Optic technology but to Fibre Coaxial or cable offers (FTTB). The FTTB network is none other than the vast network of the former cable operator Numericable. After the merger between Numericable and SFR, SFR took over this network to deploy very high speed offers.

In FTTH, the fibre optic line does not reach the interior of the property but stops at an optical node at the exterior of the building or street. The last meters of connection are made using a coaxial cable, which explains the speeds slightly lower than those of FTTH. The SFR FTTB offer is grouped together under the name Box THD (for Très Haut Débit or Very High Speed).

SFR France Mobile Network Coverage

According to the most recent surveys done by the French telecommunications regulator ARCEP, SFR's network coverage is more or less the same as other French Telecoms companies for 2G, 3G, and 4G coverage (SFR covers 99.2% of the population for 2G, 97% of the population for 3G, and 99.7% of the population for 4G in 2021).

SFR's service quality is relatively strong, slightly behind Orange but comparable to Bouygues Telecom and ahead of Free Mobile. Since 2019, the deployment of the SFR 5G mobile network has been underway in Metropolitan France, the first of which has included service rollouts at Nice in 2020, Nantes and Paris in 2021, with sites at Montpellier, Bordeaux, Marseille and wider Ile-de-France to follow.

SFR 4G Box Coverage

As part of the New Deal mobile degree published in 2019, SFR and other French telecom operators must provide a 4G internet service (Fixed 4G) or 4G box offer in government-identified geographic areas which do not yet have access to satisfactory fixed Internet offers (ADSL or fibre optic), and formerly satellite internet may have been the only available option. 4G box offers, subject to 4G coverage and capacity of the mobile network, now make it possible to quickly equip households with high-speed broadband in these locations.

In 2020, Arcep found that 4G box services covered approximately 24 million premises across France and that for around 4 million of them, fixed 4G was the best internet access technology in terms of maximum speeds. Additionally, SFR has obligations to extend their 4G box coverage in the areas covered by its 4G mobile network and deploy 500 new sites in these government-identified zones.

SFR Mobile Plans

SFR offers a wide range of mobile phone plans, organized into two categories (4G and 5G). These plans give you the option to purchase the SIM card only, or select a new phone to go with the contract. It might be worth noting that for SIM only plans, you are normally under a 12-month contract (engagement 12 mois), however if you get a new phone through an SFR plan you will be under a 24-month contract (engagement 24 mois). Prices range from 3€ to 80€ per month during the first year of the contract (without internet client discounts).

SFR currently has 8 mobile phone options:

1. 2h 100 Mb (4G)
2. 5 Gb (4G)
3. 50 Gb (4G)
4. 80 Gb (4G)
5. 80 Gb (5G)
6. 120 Gb (5G)
7. 160 Gb (5G)
8. Illimité 5G (unlimited)

These mobile plans offer unlimited calls in France, a range of data inclusions as well as several additional features, including:

• Unlimited SMS/MMS to mobile phone numbers within France
• Between 5 Gb and unlimited Gb of data per month
• unlimited calls & SMS/MMS from Europe/French Overseas Departments & Territories + a certain amount of data/month (from 5 Gb to 100 Gb, depending on the plan)
• Access to SFR wifi hotspots, and extensive 4G coverage

SFR low-cost SIM card

SFR's 2h 100Mb basic SIM only mobile plan is ideal for customers looking to have a small amount of calls and data per month. Considering that SFR Box clients can benefit from a discount on the monthly fees in the first year of the service, the 2h 100mb offer is effectively free for the first 12 months. This plan comes with a one-year contract and includes:

• 2h of calls in France
• unlimited SMS to French mobile phone numbers
• 100Mb of data a month
• access to SFR wifi hotspots and 4G coverage

Depending on your call and data requirements, and how long you plan to stay in France, SFR also offer prepaid SIM cards that allow you to pay-as-you-go without a monthly plan, and also international SIM card offer for frequent travellers who need internet access and calls abroad in a variety of countries. Learn more about what type of mobile phone service is right for your needs.

Get a SFR Mobile Plan Today! Contact our English-speaking advisors to compare and subscribe to the best mobile plan for your needs. Just call +33 9 77 55 72 27 .

RED by SFR

SFR launched its low-cost brand in 2011. All RED by SFR plans are non-binding (sans engagement), meaning that you can end your mobile plan or internet service at any time with no penalty and relatively little hassle. Find out more about RED by SFR in our guide.

• RED by SFR plans feature:
• SFR's coverage and service quality
• Online-only customer service
• Non-binding (sans engagement) contracts
• Internet + mobile phone options
• Unlimited calls to phones in France
• Mobile phone plan data ranges from 200Mb of data/month on their basic offer to 200 Gb data/month

SFR Box Offers in France

SFR has four box (fixed) offers: the SFR Box, the SFR Box Power, and the SFR Box Premium, and two mobile internet offers: the SFR 4G Box, and the SFR Internet Everywhere (Internet Partout) mobile dongle. Each fixed-line SFR Box offer is available in ADSL, Fibre Optic (FTTH) or THD (FTTB) depending on your eligibility.

It is worth noting that all SFR Box (fixed) internet plans come with a 12-month commitment, but usually offer cheaper promotional rates in the first 12 months. SFR deals do change often, so it's best to speak to an advisor about current promotions for SFR services. You can learn more in our guide to discounts on phone and internet deals.

Subscribe to an SFR Box offer today! Contact our English-speaking advisors to set up your internet contract in France. Just call +33 9 77 55 72 27 .

SFR Internet Offers Without a Contract

SFR BOX 4G Offer

THE SFR 4G Box service is a mobile internet option without engagement, which delivers high speed internet to individuals whose accommodation does not have fiber or ADSL access, or whose ADSL internet speed is low but 4G coverage is strong. Access to the SFR 4G Box service is subject to location, however eligible households benefit from:

1. Very high speed internet with a maximum download speed of 260 Megabit/s (and 50 Megabit/s maximum upload)
2. Unlimited calls to landlines and mobiles in France and DOM

3. 200GB of internet data per month (reduced speed beyond that). Note, it's not possible to overrun the data limit, but clients can choose to top up their data by 50GB (+€10) or 100GB (+€15)

   Want an SFR 4G Box service? Test your home's eligibility! Contact our English-speaking advisors to find out if your area is covered by the SFR Box 4G offer. Just call +33 9 77 55 72 27 .

   SFR Internet Partout

   SFR provides a daily mobile internet offer without engagement designed for occasional use, for example, on holidays, business trips. The Internet Everywhere offer (Internet Partout) is ideal for customers who need internet at their second home and don't want to pay a monthly flat rate, or travel a few days a month and need unlimited internet but only want to pay for the days they use the service. The SFR Internet Everywhere offer includes:

   1. Unlimited internet in mainland France through the SFR 4G nework and 2GB/day in Europe and overseas departments at €3/day (payment triggered on first daily use)
   2. A 4G dongle or pocket box from 39€ to use with the SIM card of the mobile internet service. It is also possible to subscribe only to the offer. In this case, you will only receive the SIM card to insert in your own equipment to enjoy the internet in 4G.

   SFR Reviews

   Customer reviews for SFR, as is the case for all telecommunications operators in France, are mixed. Here is a quick summary of what customers have been reporting online about SFR:

   • Efficient customer service: customers reported receiving equipment quickly
   • Good cellphone coverage
   • Expensive: some customers considered SFR expensive for what they offer

   SFR Customer Service in English

   There appears to be an automated SFR English Helpline at 1026 when if you contact SFR in France (or +33(0)6 1000 1026 from abroad), but according to online forum discussions customers are often redirected to the SFR French Customer Support. SFR offers only limited English-speaking help online, aside from a few discussions in the SFR Community online forum. You may be able to find English-speaking advisors in an SFR boutique, although this is not guaranteed.

   To access English-speaking subscription assistance for SFR, call Selectra at 09 77 55 72 27 (Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 9 pm and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Saturdays).

   SFR Contact Numbers for customer assistance

   SFR Customer Service Phone Numbers

   Customer Service	Phone Number
   Automated mobile phone customer service	963 or 06 1000 1963
   Automated internet customer service	0 805 701 801
   SFR customer service	1023
   SFR customer service from overseas	+ 336 1000 1023

   These numbers are free when dialled from your SFR mobile phone number, but may be subject to charges when dialled from a number of a different mobile phone operator

   Find out more ways to contact SFR in our guide to SFR customer support.

   Find a SFR Boutique

   There are hundreds of SFR boutiques throughout France, and you should be able to find a physical shop fairly easily in most French cities and towns. Check your closest SFR boutique.

   Subscribe to a SFR Mobile or Internet Plan

   If you wish to subscribe to an SFR internet or mobile phone offer, Selectra's English-speaking advisors can help you set up your contracts, free of charge! Call Selectra at 09 77 55 72 27 (Monday to Friday, from 8 am to 9 pm and 9:30 am to 6:30 pm on Saturdays).

   Signing up for a Mobile Phone Plan With SFR

   You can sign up for an SFR phone plan, online, over the phone on 1099 (in French), or in an SFR boutique.

   • You will need to provide the following to sign up for a mobile phone plan with SFR
   • Your contact information: name, email address, and French mobile phone number
   • Your address: street address, apartment number, zip code
   • Your banking information (RIB): you need to have a French bank account already set up before you sign up for a postpaid mobile phone plan (although some European banks are accepted). Some providers may also ask for your bank card (carte bancaire) information, which is used for activation fees/deposit.

   Signing up for a SFR Internet Plan

   You can sign up for an SFR Internet plan online, by calling 1099 (in French), or in an SFR Boutique. When subscribing to an Internet plan with SFR, you will need to:

   1. Test your phone line to determine your broadband/fibre optic eligibility
   2. Provide full contact details: name, email address, and French mobile phone number
   3. Provide your full address: street address, apartment number, zip code
   4. Provide your banking information (RIB): you must have a French bank account in order to sign up for an Internet plan (although some European banks are accepted). You may also be ask for your bank card (carte bancaire) information

   SFR Cancellation process

   To cancel an Internet or mobile phone plan with SFR, you can either call the SFR customer service (at 1023), send a cancellation letter (lettre de résiliation) to the appropriate customer service address, or cancel your plan online in your personal space (espace client). Check the terms and conditions of your SFR mobile phone or internet plans to determine your end of engagement date. Note that for plans that include an engagement period, you may have to pay a cancellation fee. However, according to the loi Chatel, these fees are reduced to one-quarter of the original sum if the plan is cancelled after one year (on the 13th month). Note, you should be able to cancel your mobile phone or Internet plan for free if you are leaving the country, provided you have supporting doccumentation.

   Find more information about terminating your contracts in our guides How to cancel an Internet plan for free in France and How to cancel your mobile phone plan in France for free

   Please note that if you are cancelling by letter, it must be sent by registered post (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception). The lettre de résiliation (cancellation letter) that you send to SFR must contain:

   • Your full name (first name, family name)
   • Your account number (identifiant abonné)
   • Your account ID (numéro de Ligne de l’abonné)

   SFR will cancel your plan within 10 days of having received the letter. To be informed of when SFR receives your cancellation letter be sure to send it through registered post (lettre recommandée avec avis de réception). Once they have received your cancellation request, SFR will notify you if any equipment (e.g. Box modem) needs to be returned and will direct you accordingly.

   Keeping Your SFR Phone Number

   To keep your phone number when changing providers you need to find out your RIO code (Relevé d'Identité Opérateur - a unique identifying number that is assigned to your phone number). This is a 12-digit number that you can find by dialling 3179 (to automatically receive your RIO in a text), or in your personal space online. You then will need to communicate this number to your new provider - they will take care of the rest (transferring your number, cancelling service your old provider)!

   Do you want to change operator? Contact Selectra free of charge on +33 9 77 55 72 27 and let our English-speaking advisors guide you through the process.