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 footprint on the same spectrum, according to figures published by France's national spectrum agency ANFR.
The changes highlight a significant shift in how the French operator is using its 2.1GHz spectrum, with the number of sites providing 5G services continuing to increase as its 4G footprint on the band contracts.
4G footprint falls to 16,154 sites
According to ANFR, Bouygues Telecom had 16,154 cell sites operating 4G services on the 2.1GHz band in mainland France as of 1 October 2026.
The figure follows the shutdown of more than 2,800 sites during September, representing a substantial reduction in the operator's use of the frequency band for LTE services.
The contraction left Bouygues with the smallest 2.1GHz 4G site footprint among France's major mobile operators.
The figures specifically concern 4G services on the 2.1GHz band. They do not indicate that Bouygues has shut down an equivalent number of physical mobile towers or withdrawn 4G coverage across its broader network.
5G deployment on 2.1GHz reaches 19,429 sites
While reducing its 4G footprint on the band, Bouygues continued expanding its 5G presence.
ANFR recorded 19,429 cell sites delivering 5G services on 2.1GHz frequencies as of 1 October, an increase of 467 during September.
The expansion reinforced Bouygues Telecom's leadership among French operators in the number of 2.1GHz sites providing 5G services.
The contrasting trends suggest a changing balance between LTE and 5G use of the frequency band, although the figures do not establish whether the 4G shutdowns and 5G additions occurred at the same physical locations.
Spectrum utilisation shifts toward 5G
The 2.1GHz band has historically supported mobile services across multiple technology generations.
As operators expand 5G networks, existing spectrum can be reassigned or shared between technologies to accommodate changing traffic requirements and device adoption.
This process can allow operators to increase the resources available for 5G without relying exclusively on newly allocated frequencies.
Bouygues Telecom's September figures are consistent with a broader shift toward 5G use of the 2.1GHz band.
However, the ANFR figures cited do not specify how much spectrum capacity has been reassigned from LTE to 5G, whether dynamic spectrum sharing is involved, or how the changes affect network speeds and coverage.
4G remains part of the wider network
The reduction in 2.1GHz LTE sites should not be interpreted as a general retirement of Bouygues Telecom's 4G network.
Mobile operators typically operate LTE across several frequency bands, allowing them to maintain service coverage and capacity even when the configuration of a particular band changes.
The available figures do not identify which alternative frequencies are serving areas affected by the 2.1GHz changes.
They also do not provide information about customer migration, service quality or whether additional spectrum reconfiguration is planned.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
