While Free is the only operator on the market to offer a Wi-Fi compatible internet box in France, namely the Freebox Ultra, another competitor could soon enter the fray.
As you may know, Free can now boast of being the only operator to offer a Wi-Fi 7 compatible internet box in France, namely the Freebox Ultra.
Thanks to the adoption of the latest wireless connection standard, the Freebox Ultra claims unrivaled speeds, up to 8 Gbit/s for upload and download. In March 2024, the Web troublemaker went even further by offering a new Wi-Fi 7 modem for the small Freebox Pop, launched in 2020.
Where the problem lies is that you obviously need a compatible device to enjoy it. And suffice to say that for now, the suitors do not jostle at the gate. Only a handful of high-end smartphones like the Galaxy S23 or S24, the Google Pixel 8 and some state-of-the-art PCs display the Wi-Fi 7 symbol.
SFR would prepare its Wi-Fi 7 compatible internet box
But of course, it’s only a matter of time before Wi-Fi 7 compatible devices become more popular in stores and among users. SFR has understood this well and clearly, the operator does not want to miss the boat. Indeed and according to documents published by Altice Labs, the Altice laboratory (editor’s note: the parent company of SFR), the red square could well be the next to launch a Wi-Fi 7 box.
According to its files dated October 2023, Altice Labs’ R&D teams are currently working on an new XGS-Pon modem compatible with Wi-Fi 7 as well as on a new Wi-Fi 7 fiber gateway. If we rely on the technical characteristics displayed, the modem in question could reach speeds of 10 Gbit/s in optical fiber. It would also have 4 Ethernet ports of 1 Gbit/s, 2.5 Gbit/s, 5 Gbit/s and 10 Gbit/s respectively. Tri-Band Wi-Fi 7 would also be part of it, for optimal wireless speeds.
Although this has not yet been confirmed at the time of writing, there is a good chance that this modem is found in a new Internet offer from SFR . Still, launching a Wi-Fi 7 box may not be enough to win against the Freebox Ultra. For good reason, Free has ensured to accompany your box with a concrete offerwhich notably includes for €44.99 per month a plethora of streaming services such as Netflix and Disney + with advertising, Amazon Prime Video or even Canal +.
Source: Degrouptest