SFR's 3G service goes live in France

June 17, 2004

French mobile operator SFR has launched services over its 3G network which will initially be available in only three cities. Coverage is currently limited to Paris, Lyon and Toulouse but other cities such as Lille and Nantes are expected to have service next month.

SFR is offering two 3G handsets, the Samsung SGH Z105 and the Sony Ericcson Z1010 priced at 499 euros. Apart from video calling functions and video services, an added incentive for customers to join early will be that the first 5,000 subscribers will pay only 1 euro for the Samsung SGH Z105.

The service is restricted to SFR's existing customers while new customers will be able to subscribe in November at the earliest.

Monthly tariff range between 46 euros for 3 hours and 102 euros for 10 hours use per month.

Subscribers to SFR, which is partly owned by Vodafone, are able to access Vodafone Live! services. They can use their 3G phones on Vodafone's networks in Germany, Italy, Spain, Greece and Portugal, which has also launched limited 3G services.

Vodafone also introduced 3G services in the Netherlands yesterday that covers Groningen, Enschede, Den Bosch, Eindhoven and Maastrich.

French operator Bouygues Telecom will not complete deployment of its 3G network before 2006 or 2007. The company says that UMTS technology remains difficult to use especially inside buildings and while on the move.