Mobile packages: Orange and Free say no to the idea of ADEME on the reduction of data
The Ecological Transition Agency (ADEME) recently raised an idea that makes teeth tooth the telecom operators: limit the amount of mobile data in the packages. According to the agency, the French consume an average of 17 GB per month. Therefore, why offer unlimited subscriptions or with hundreds of gigabytes? A question that makes Orange and Free jump.
A proposal rejected by Orange and Free
First, it should be remembered that ADEME has no legislative power. It issues recommendations which may, possibly inspire political decisions. Its objective was above all to encourage a more responsible digital consumption to limit the environmental impact, without any elected official having formally proposed to cap the data.
But the operators see this track with a very bad eye. Xavier Niel, founder of Free, replied a simple “No” on X.
At Orange, the reaction is more developed, but the opposition remains firm. Laurentino Lavezzi, director of public affairs of the group, qualifies this proposal to “False good idea”.
The archetype of the false good idea.
Ademe says it itself: the average data consumption is 17GB (or even a little less in fact).
Whatever the datas bucket of the package, a bucket which is an element on which the competition plays, the vast majority of customers who … https://t.co/u6icm7f7xc– Laurentino Lavezzi (@L_Lavezzi) FEBRUARY 3, 2025
Bouygues Telecom and SFR have not publicly commented on this initiative.
A limited impact on the environment
Why such a rejection? Because the average user consumption would not change drastically with a limitation. An unlimited package or a subscription capped with 25 GB consume the same amount of energy globally if the user does not exceed his usual consumption.
According to Orange, it is elsewhere that it is necessary to act: on the services themselves. These are streaming platforms, social networks and online games that generate traffic. Improving encoding technologies and data flow regulation would have a much more significant impact than the restriction of mobile subscriptions.
A article of Next Recalls that ADEME, unlike certain rumors, does not have the power to offer laws, as Roland Marion, director of the circular economy of the agency said. He explains that ADEME collects and analyzes data, but that any legislative initiative depends on policies. He also evokes the progressive pricing of the plans, a subject of reflection which has not yet resulted in a concrete recommendation.
Other room for maneuver exist to limit ecological impact
Limiting the packages is also depriving consumers of a certain freedom of use. Today, offers with a large data envelope allow users to access the Internet without constraint, especially in the absence of wifi. For Free And Orangethis cap would amount to restricting competition and slowing down innovation in the telecoms sector.
Furthermore, as the article of our colleagues underlines, ecological priority should not be limited to mobile plans. According to ADEME, there are much greater room for maneuver, especially on the manufacture of terminals and the management of datacenters.
For consumers, therefore, no concern: this ADEME proposal has no legislative value and will not be applied. Orange and Free firmly oppose it, no bill is underway. THE Unlimited and generous packages therefore remain topical; And consumers can always balance their data needs with more responsible use.
