Bouygues Telecom switched off more than 2,800 4G cell sites operating on the 2.1GHz frequency band during September 2026, while expanding its 5G presence on the same spectrum, according to France's national frequency agency ANFR.
The changes reduced the French operator's 2.1GHz LTE footprint to 16,154 sites as of 1 October, the smallest among its domestic competitors, while its 5G footprint on the band increased to 19,429 sites.
The contrasting trends highlight how Bouygues is changing its use of existing mobile spectrum as 5G deployment continues.
4G footprint contracts sharply in September
According to ANFR, Bouygues Telecom deactivated 4G services on the 2.1GHz band at more than 2,800 cell sites during September.
The reduction left the operator with 16,154 sites using the band for LTE services across mainland France at the beginning of October.
This represents a substantial monthly contraction in its 2.1GHz 4G footprint, placing Bouygues behind its major competitors in the number of LTE sites operating on that frequency.
Importantly, the figures refer specifically to the 2.1GHz band. They do not indicate that Bouygues physically dismantled thousands of mobile towers or discontinued 4G services across those locations entirely.
Bouygues strengthens leadership in 2.1GHz 5G deployment
While its LTE footprint declined, Bouygues continued expanding 5G services on the same frequency band.
ANFR recorded 19,429 sites delivering 5G over 2.1GHz as of 1 October, an increase of 467 sites during September.
The expansion reinforced Bouygues Telecom's leading position among French operators in the number of sites providing 5G services on this band.
Its 5G footprint on 2.1GHz now exceeds its LTE footprint on the same frequency by 3,275 sites.
The figures indicate a changing balance in the operator's use of the band, although they do not establish whether the LTE deactivations and 5G additions occurred at the same physical locations.
Spectrum reconfiguration becomes central to 5G expansion
The developments are consistent with the broader industry practice of reallocating existing mobile spectrum toward newer network technologies.
The 2.1GHz band has supported several generations of mobile services, and operators can adjust how frequencies are used as customer demand and device capabilities evolve.
Shifting resources toward 5G can help operators support growing demand for newer mobile services without relying entirely on additional spectrum allocations.
However, the available ANFR figures do not confirm the precise technical mechanism behind Bouygues Telecom's changes.
They do not specify how much spectrum has been reassigned, whether dynamic spectrum sharing is involved or how the changes affect network performance.
Existing 4G services remain distinct from band-specific shutdowns
The reduction in 2.1GHz LTE sites should not be interpreted as a nationwide 4G shutdown.
Mobile operators commonly deliver 4G services across multiple frequency bands, allowing network configurations to change without necessarily removing LTE availability from a location.
The reported figures do not establish which alternative frequency bands remain active at the affected sites or whether customers experienced changes in coverage or capacity.
Similarly, the increase in 2.1GHz 5G sites does not independently establish improvements in geographic coverage, download speeds or network capacity.
Those outcomes would require additional network deployment and performance data.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
