Options and rates for prepaid SIM cards in France as Bouygues cards end
You can transfer your old phone number to a new operator. We look at the options
You can transfer your old phone number to a new operator - even if it is a prepaid SIM card
Chere/Shutterstock
Bouygues Telecom is to stop selling prepaid SIM cards in France, the company has announced, in a move that follows the decline of sales in an increasingly saturated market. We look at the solutions that are available and how to transfer your number to a new operator.
Around nine out of ten of France’s 82 million SIM cards in France are provided under a mobile phone contract, according to data from telecoms watchdog Arcep.
Despite there being more SIM cards in circulation than there are people in France, sales are still growing, with around 150,000 more distributed in 2023.
However, sales of prepaid SIM cards are in steep decline with around 6.9 million prepaid cards in circulation in 2024, down from 7.4 million at the start of 2023.
This decline is in large part due to the abundance of alternative offers and more flexible contracts from operators such as Free Mobile.
The average monthly subscription for a contract has dropped by 24.4% in one year, to cost €12.93 per month, according to data from the broker Ariase.
This was driven by the growth of ‘mobile virtual network operators’, which rely on the infrastructure provided by the major networks and offer a similar service at a lower cost, such as Sosh (on Orange networks), NRJ Mobile (on Bouygues Telecom), Prixtel (on SFR), and Red (on SFR)
Nonetheless, prepaid SIM cards remain a practical option for many, including second-home owners in France, who only need a French number to receive texts and calls.
Read more: Portable internet service Starlink Mini is now available in France
What prepaid options are available in 2024?
| Provider | Price |
| Orange Mobicarte | From €3 |
| Lebara Mobile | From €5 |
| Bouygues Telecom | From €5 |
| SFR la carte | From €9.99 |
| La Poste Mobile | €5 to €30 |
Bouygues has announced its withdrawal from the prepaid market effective from December 31, 2024, from which date the cards will no longer be available for purchase.
This means that people with Bouygues prepaid SIM cards will be unable to recharge them.
People who want to sign a contract with Bouygues will be able to do so until June 30, 2025. After this date their number will become invalid.
How to keep your prepaid number
You can keep a prepaid number by taking the Relevé d’Identité Opérateur, or RIO, number of your line and giving it to another operator - either for another prepaid deal or for a contract.
To find your RIO number, call 3179.
The number identifies your mobile phone provider, shows whether you are a firm or an individual, the type of phone contract along with a reference code
You must give this number to your new mobile provider (either online or in a shop). They will then cancel your old offer and send you a new SIM card with your old number.
The process of transferring your mobile phone number to a new operator, which is a legal right in France and overseen by Arcep, usually means going 24 hours without a working number.
Note, that the process only works for French phone numbers and SIM cards - you cannot transfer your UK or US number to a French operator.
