Mobile plan price hikes in France: how to avoid paying more

Mobile plan price increases are piling up in France. Since early October 2026, subscribers of SFR, RED by SFR and Prixtel have been told to expect hikes ranging from €0.99 to nearly €5 a month, depending on the plan. According to Ariase's barometer, the average price of entry-level plans has risen 7.8% since the start of 2026.

A market heading toward three operators

The planned takeover of SFR by Bouygues Telecom, Free and Orange would split its customers among the three rivals, with Free taking over RED. The deal is not yet finalised, and it is unclear what rates those customers would pay. Moving from four major operators to three also makes a new price war unlikely.

Other operators are not holding back. Some Orange customers have been offered 70 extra GB for €2 more per month. Sosh announced in October a change adding 30 GB and 5G, but also €3 on the bill, taking a plan from €10.99 to €13.99. Those two changes can be refused, unlike the increases imposed on some SFR and RED customers.

What subscribers can do

First, check whether you can refuse. At Sosh, customers can decline from their online account before 15 November; keeping the current plan saves €36 a year. For RED customers hit by the imposed €1.99 increase, the only option is to cancel, not to keep the old price.

Under the rule restated by the regulator Arcep, an operator must give at least one month's notice and then allow four months from notification to cancel free of charge if the customer refuses. The clock does not start with the first higher invoice. If no compliant notice was sent, request a copy and contest the new price in writing. The end of a promotional discount planned at signup does not count as a new contractual change and does not trigger this right.

Negotiation is another route, and easier with a competing offer in hand. Ask whether the adviser is applying a discount to your current plan or moving you to a new one, since the latter may mean a new commitment of one or two years. The most radical option, switching provider, is often the most effective, ideally after comparing offers well beyond the big four, including MVNOs, and checking contract terms.