A little more than one after the launch of the new generation of mobile technologies, it is becoming less and less rare to come across a 5G site in France. According to the count made by the authorities, metropolitan France has 5,30,963 sites authorized on December 1, for 20,954 sites declared technically usable by mobile operators.

If the results are not yet fully accountable with regard to the quality of service of 5G offers marketed by operators, the deployment of new generation networks continues to show good shape in terms of … whether in large metropolises or smaller towns. At least, this is the conclusion that Ariase has just drawn from the latest edition of its ranking of the cities with the best 5G coverage.

As of September 30, the company notes that “after the start of the year when the deployment was focused on large metropolises, 5G is now extending to more less dense municipalities”. In fact, in the third quarter of 2021, mainland France has around 100 new towns with more than 5,000 inhabitants with at least one 5G site. Unsurprisingly, Paris retains its city square with better 5G coverage, with 765 5G sites as of September 30 (or 289 more than a quarter previously). The City of Light is ahead of Marseille (337 5G sites), while Toulouse completes the podium thanks to its 223 5G sites.

Very useful proximity to large cities

The Pink City took 3rd place on the podium in Lyon, which had 176 5G sites operational as of September 30, but where only 15 new sites had been opened during the quarter. Next come Nice (171 5G sites), Bordeaux (129), Montpellier (114), Nantes (102), Lille (89), Strasbourg (82) and Rennes (70).

In cities of 50,000 to 200,000 inhabitants, the prize for the agglomeration with the best 5G coverage goes to Clermont-Ferrand (90), which is behind Saint-Etienne and its 89 5G sites. Aix-en-Provence completes the top three with 81 5G sites. Regarding municipalities with 20,000 to 50,000 inhabitants, this time Aubagne clearly dominates the ranking with its 33 5G sites recorded on September 30. The city is ahead of Vitrolles (29) and Cagnes-sur-Mer and its 24 5G sites.

Finally, in the ranking of 5G cities with more than 5,000 inhabitants, Sanary-sur-mer (83) dethrones Carquefou (44). For the Ariase teams, this is “a situation which clearly illustrates the rise of 5G in cities adjoining large conurbations. Let us quote for example Cesson-Sévigné glued to Rennes (35), Balma (31 ) near Toulouse, Cestas (33) near Bordeaux or even Septèmes-les-Vallons (13) in Marseille “.