Orange puts an end to its Femtocell, UFC-Que Choisir sees it as “a step backwards for thousands of subscribers” – Univers Freebox

Orange puts an end to its Femtocell, UFC-Que Choisir sees “a step backwards for thousands of subscribers”

Goodbye to the 3G mini-network for making calls with your mobile in the event of poor coverage at home for Orange subscribers. You will have to go through WiFi calls. As long as you have a compatible terminal.

“The Femtocell 3G has become obsolete, the service stopped definitively on August 21, 2021”, recently informed Orange. To justify this decision, the incumbent operator highlights a constantly improving mobile network coverage, more than 99% of the population receives its 4G, but also the restitution of part of its 2100 MHz frequencies as well as the adoption of the practical integrated Wi-Fi calling functionality “in many mobiles ”(see the list) in the event of insufficient coverage inside the home. What to make and receive calls by connecting your mobile to a Wi-Fi network.

In total, 160,000 subscribers are affected by the end of this free service, which consisted of connecting a box to the Livebox in order to benefit from a 3G mini-network within homes. Corn UFC Que-Choose already see “A flashback for thousands of customers”.

For its part, Orange estimates at 20% the number of users who realized that they were receiving perfectly after having deactivated the femtocell. For the others, it will therefore be necessary to be satisfied with WiFi calls. However, if the operator ensures that they consume 2 times less energy than a mobile call, the consumer association deplores, supported by user feedback, that they “Quickly deplete phone batteries”. Not to mention that many recent models do not integrate this functionality. Many subscribers will either have to renew their smartphone or “Go back to the back of the garden or near the village church to make a call or send an SMS, and wait for Orange to install a mobile antenna near their home”. Or even change operator.

For those who own a femtocell, all they need to do is return it to Orange for recycling. For those who have not canceled the option before the end of the service, the operator will automatically send them a Chronopost return slip in September.

1 thought on “Orange puts an end to its Femtocell, UFC-Que Choisir sees it as “a step backwards for thousands of subscribers” – Univers Freebox”