The build-to-suit agreement will see TDF deploy 2,500 sites for Free under a 20-year master services contract, accelerating 4G and 5G densification across France
French infrastructure operator TDF and Free have signed a strategic build-to-suit (BTS) agreement covering the deployment of 2,500 new telecommunications sites across France, in a move aimed at accelerating the extension and densification of Free’s 4G and 5G network.
Under the terms of the deal, the parties have entered into an investment agreement that provides for a 20-year Master Service Agreement, with Free remaining the principal tenant on the newly built sites. Completion of the transaction remains subject to customary regulatory conditions.
The programme will significantly expand TDF’s national footprint. The company currently operates more than 8,800 sites across France, including pylons, towers and rooftop installations, positioning it as one of the leading independent towercos in the French market. The additional 2,500 sites are expected to reinforce its role as a neutral host infrastructure provider serving multiple mobile operators.
For Free, the agreement is designed to support continued network densification as mobile data usage and 5G traffic grow. The operator ended September 2025 with 15.7 million mobile subscribers in France and 23.2 million retail subscribers in total. By leveraging TDF’s infrastructure model, the Iliad Group subsidiary intends to concentrate capital expenditure on service quality and customer experience, rather than on directly owning passive infrastructure assets.
Free chief executive officer Nicolas Thomas said the agreement reflected the operator’s focus on scaling infrastructure to maintain quality of service as demand for data and 5G services continues to increase. He added that the partnership would enable Free to accelerate network expansion while maintaining financial discipline.
TDF CEO Karim El Naggar described the transaction as aligned with the company’s long-term strategy as a neutral host operator. He said the partnership would expand TDF’s presence in strategic areas across France and support the development of “robust, scalable and future-ready infrastructure”.
The deal also reflects a broader trend in the French and European markets towards long-term infrastructure partnerships between mobile network operators and independent tower companies. build-to-suit arrangements allow operators to expand coverage and densify urban networks without committing large amounts of upfront capital to site acquisition and construction, while providing towercos with predictable, long-duration revenue streams anchored by a primary tenant.
TDF positions its portfolio as part of France’s critical infrastructure, supporting mobile ultra-high-speed networks, indoor coverage, edge data centres and private mobile networks. The addition of 2,500 new sites will contribute to reducing coverage gaps, strengthening urban network capacity and supporting further 5G rollout across regions.
For Free and its parent Iliad Group, the agreement fits within an established infrastructure strategy that has seen the group enter into several joint ventures and partnerships in recent years, both in France and in other European markets.
