France’s three largest mobile operators have each passed the one million mark for 4G subscribers, as they all respond to the aggressive pricing initiated by upstart Free Mobile in December, said Reuters.

Market leader Orange announced it made the one-million target by the end of 2013. Rivals SFR and Bouygues Telecom also confirmed that they passed the same milestone.

However outsider Free Mobile, which last month launched 4G as part of its existing €19.99 monthly plan, has not revealed its subscriber numbers.The three larger rivals have all been forced to respond with pricing initiatives of their own.

Orange, SFR and Bouygues Telecom separately set their own one-million targets earlier in 2013 when they started LTE rollout.

Geographic coverage, as well as pricing, is also a factor in the competition between the four operators.

Alongside its announcement of passing one million 4G subscribers, Orange flagged up its coverage achievements.

“Orange currently has 5,126 4G masts in operation, covering 50 per cent of France on 1 January 2014, and Orange currently offers the highest theoretical maximum speed of 150 Mb/s,” it said.

This followed a statement by SFR that its 4G network now covers more than 40 per cent of the French population (1 January 2014), including 1,200 cities and towns.

Recent additions to the operator’s coverage include Amiens, Arles, Besançon, Bordeaux, Le Havre, Mulhouse, Nice, Rennes, Tours and Valence.