The Texto SMS Gratuit team
29 June 2026 · 5 min read
How do you know whether you'll be able to call or text from a given spot in the country? In France, the answer comes from the coverage maps published by Arcep, the telecom regulator, through its "Mon réseau mobile" tool. And those maps are about to change in a big way. On 23 April 2026, Arcep launched a public consultation to overhaul its Voice and SMS coverage map, currently built on the ageing 2G and 3G networks. Here's what's coming, why, and what it concretely means for you.
Photo: Unsplash — Voice/SMS coverage now rests on several generations of mobile networks.
A Voice/SMS map inherited from another era
Until now, Arcep's Voice and SMS coverage map relied on 2G and 3G. That made sense: for years, your calls and texts travelled over those legacy networks. But that foundation is disappearing. Operators have scheduled the shutdown of 2G and 3G between late March 2026 and 2029, a switch we detailed in our guide on the 2G shutdown in France.
The problem: a map tied to networks being switched off no longer reflects reality. According to the technical experts' committee on mobile networks (March 2026), the share of traffic actually carried over 2G is "very low" and comes mostly from handsets that can only work on 2G. In other words, the vast majority of your communications already travel elsewhere.
The new map includes 4G and 5G
This is the heart of the reform. Arcep proposes to replace the 2G-3G Voice/SMS map with a unified map that includes every available technology: 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G. The key is VoLTE (Voice over LTE) — voice and SMS carried over 4G, and soon over 5G. This technology is exactly what lets you keep calling and texting once 2G is switched off.
In practice, the new map will show Voice/SMS coverage as it really is, across all generations, instead of stopping at networks on their way out. Arcep also plans to drop the requirement for operators to publish their 2G map, now pointless.
| Before the reform | After the reform |
|---|---|
| Voice/SMS map based on 2G/3G | Unified Voice/SMS map: 2G/3G/4G/5G |
| 2G map required | 2G map removed |
| Partial picture of usage | Faithful picture of real coverage |
Good news for users: Arcep specifies that the maps' reliability requirements and the coverage levels shown (from no service to very good coverage) remain unchanged. Only the technological basis evolves.
Photo: Unsplash — "Mon réseau mobile" lets you compare operators' coverage.
The timeline: first maps as early as November 2026
The public consultation ran until 4 June 2026. If the regulatory schedule holds, the first publications of the new Voice/SMS maps could arrive as early as 3 November 2026, based on data as of 30 September 2026.
In parallel, Arcep is opening a debate on the future of mobile-internet maps: removing the 3G map that is set to disappear, and turning the 4G map into a "very high-speed mobile" map independent of the technology used (4G or 5G). These ideas go hand in hand with the rise of 5G, including 5G Standalone.
What it means for your calls and texts
Don't worry: this reform is about how coverage is mapped, not your ability to call or text. As long as your phone supports VoLTE (nearly all recent smartphones do), your calls and texts will keep working after 2G is switched off. SMS itself remains the most universal channel: it reaches every phone, with no app and no data connection. That's why it survives all these upheavals, as shown by the decline in SMS volumes measured by Arcep.
Before heading to a poorly covered area, the reflex stays the same: check "Mon réseau mobile" to compare operators. And for your everyday messages, you can always send a free SMS to a French mobile, with no sign-up and no ads. If you're writing to several people, our guide on sending bulk SMS will save you time.
Frequently asked questions
What changes with Arcep's new coverage map? The Voice/SMS map, until now based on 2G and 3G, will be replaced by a unified map that also includes 4G and 5G, to reflect real coverage.
When will the new map be available? The first publications could arrive as early as 3 November 2026, based on data as of 30 September 2026.
Why is Arcep redoing its maps? Because 2G and 3G are being switched off between 2026 and 2029. A map tied to those networks no longer reflects the reality of calls and texts, now carried by VoLTE (4G/5G).
Will I still be able to send SMS after the 2G shutdown? Yes. With a VoLTE-capable phone, calls and texts go over 4G/5G. SMS remains the most universal way to reach any phone.
In short
Arcep is modernising its "Mon réseau mobile" tool: the Voice/SMS map is leaving the 2G-3G duo for a unified 2G/3G/4G/5G map, with a first release possible as early as 3 November 2026. Coverage levels and reliability requirements stay the same — only the technological basis is updated. On your end, there's nothing to do: as long as your smartphone handles VoLTE, your texts go through. Got a question? Our FAQ and contact page are here — and you can always send a free SMS in an instant.
