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Use cell phone in France: How to do it?
If you want to know if you can use your cell phone in France, this article will explain everything you need to know to stay connected.
France is a main tourist destination every year thanks to its many attractive places like the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, the city of Marseille, and even the beautiful beaches of Cannes. So if you want to visit France soon, it will be necessary that you stay connected to the internet at all times, so you must be wondering if you will be able to use your cell phone in France.
That is why through this article, we will be telling you all about how to use your cellphone during your trip to France, as well as the alternatives you will have to remain connected to the internet and stay online at all times. So if this catches your eye, keep reading and learn more with us!
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Will my phone work in France?
You are probably wondering if your cellphone will work in France, and the answer to that is yes! If you have a smartphone with you, you will most likely be able to use it during your trip and connect to the internet whenever you want. However, there are a few things you need to know about how to connect to a cellular network, go online and more before you start your trip.
Foremost, you must confirm that your cellphone has open bands, that way, you will be able to connect to the internet of any operator in your destination country. If your cellphone does not have open bands, you will only be able to use the international roaming services of your domestic operator, which could be quite expensive.
On the other hand, it is also necessary to check the band frequencies that are used by local operators of the country you will visit to know how good the internet connection will be during your stay in France. The following are the current band frequencies in this country:
- 5G bands: n1 (2100), n28a (700), n78 (3500)
- 4G bands: B1 (2100), B3 (1800), B7 (2600), B20 (800), B28B (700), B28a (700)
- 3G bands: B1 (2100), B8 (900)
- 2G bands: B3 (1800), B8 (900)
Do I need an international plan in France?
Nowadays, there are plenty of alternatives and solutions that will allow you to use your cellphone in France. So using an international cellular plan for your trip will depend on your needs. You can use your international roaming, but it can be quite expensive.
So roaming may not be the first choice for many travelers. That’s where international eSIM plans and SIM cards come in, allowing you to stay connected at all times! But which option you choose will depend on your travel needs in the end.
What are the International plans options for use cell phone in France?
Nowadays, many options will allow you to access an internet connection to use your cellphone in France anytime. Among the options, you can find international eSIM plans and SIM cards. As well as Pocket WiFi service plans.
So throughout this article, we will explain to you every detail related to the different options that will allow you to stay connected to the internet in France. Read on to learn more!
Unlimited data eSIM for France
As a first option, we have eSIMs, which work similarly to prepaid SIM cards. However, the big difference is that eSIMs are digital, so you will not need to insert a physical card into your cellphone.
On the other hand, eSIMs only work with the latest generation phones since they have an embedded nano chip, which allows the eSIM card to be installed and activated once you buy it. Once you buy your eSIM, you can activate it through QR codes.
This alternative is one of the current favorites, as they are straightforward to acquire. Additionally, you can often enjoy unlimited data plans, such as Holafly’s eSIM for France. These are priced starting at $19, and you can choose from 1 to 90-day plans.
Holafly’s International eSIM card for France offers customizable plans, and you can choose between the days and amount of cellular data you need. In addition, with these plans, you will also enjoy unlimited data plus data-sharing within France for up to 500 MBs per day. This feature is also present in other Holafly’s eSIM cards for Europe.
International SIM Card for France
On the other hand, prepaid SIM cards for France are the perfect alternative for those who do not have an eSIM-compatible cellphone. Also, these are a much more common and popular option for travelers.
There are a variety of online stores offering SIM cards for tourists in France, however, you should confirm that they offer international shipping to your country. On the other hand, you can buy a tourist SIM card in France through local operators. Companies such as Orange or SFR have physical stores throughout the territory. This last alternative may take some time of your trip before you have internet connection.
Pocket WiFi for France
Pocket WiFi is a very sought after option, as it used to be widely used by travelers. However, demand for these devices has declined over the years and travelers have stopped using them because they are somewhat expensive and also somewhat annoying to use. Pocket WiFi is a small wireless device, so you must carry it with you at all times to stay connected to the internet.
On the other hand, the great advantage of this type of service is that several devices can connect to the same Pocket WiFi, between 5 and 10 devices, such as cellphones, laptops, tablets, and others. Even so, the great disadvantage of this service is that they are very expensive, and could cost up to $349.99 to rent one, since you usually have to pay separately for different services, for example, delivery, and extra accessories, among others.
Currently, many companies offer this type of service with which you can rent a pocket Wi-Fi. Cello Mobile is an American company with which you can rent Pocket WiFi for France, and it will cost you $349.99 for a week’s use. However, you will also have to pay for shipping and any extra accessories you add along with the modem.
Free WiFi in France
Finally, the option with which you will not have to pay anything is the free WiFi. In France, you can connect to free WiFi hot spots in many European countries, such as parks, most restaurants, cafes, and bars. In addition, you can check with your hotel or place of stay if they have WiFi available for you to connect to.
However, remember that connecting to free WiFi hotspots is not the best option, as they can be very unstable, and often the internet connection may not work very well. On the other hand, you should also be careful not to provide your bank account or connect personal data to free WiFi networks, as people could steal your information.
That is why if you plan to use free WiFi for your travels, we recommend you not to use it as the first option but as an alternative to save data from your international plans.
Will my local Internet work in France?
Many local operators offer roaming internet plans for their users. However, knowing if you can use your local internet in France will depend on your domestic operator. So, we recommend you to check with them if they offer international roaming plans for France.
However, you should remember that international roaming is one of the most expensive options. You will have to pay up to $10 per day often. So, here we will tell you about two of the most famous local carriers in the United States.
Use cell phone in France with T-Mobile
First, we will discuss T-Mobile, a USA operator which offers different plans to their users to connect to the internet with their international roaming services while traveling to another country. Currently, they offer three plans: Magenta, Magenta Plus, and Essentials, and people can get them starting at 29 to 47 USD.
Using your cell phone in France with AT&T
On the other hand, we find AT&T, which is one of the most renowned companies in the United States and very well known internationally. If you are an AT&T customer, you will most likely be able to benefit from their international roaming services included in your plan or at a lower price.
The cost of data usage with AT&T is 2.05 USD per MB. In addition, this company offers its users the International Day Pass, which is priced at $10 per day. With it, you will be able to enjoy cellular data and make calls.
What is the best option for using your cell phone in France?
After talking about the different options that will allow you to use your cellphone in France, it is necessary to determine which is the best option to enjoy your trip the most and with the best services available.
That is why we would like to recommend Holafly’s services as the best of all. Holafly’s eSIM for France is very affordable and easy to purchase. Also, you can count on unlimited data plus calling minutes and 24-hour technical support from the Holafly team.
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Hi! Leoneska here, your guide to traveling connected. I'm a Venezuelan SEO content specialist with over four years of experience sharing tips and tricks for using mobile internet while traveling and making the most of your adventures. At Holafly, I take care of providing reliable and high-quality information to travelers like you. I hope you enjoy my content and find it useful!
