The network roaming deal between Orange France and Free Mobile has always been controversial because it enabled Free to expand its cellular services rapidly, undercutting the established MNOs with disruptive effect. Now, it seems the uneasy relationship will not persist into further sharing deals in the 5G era. Orange and Free have ended negotiations that aimed to establish a new network sharing agreement following the 5G auction that took place last October. This was understood to be focused on reducing the cost of rural coverage through sharing of passive and some active infrastructure. The second and third MNOs, Bouygues and SFR, already have a tower sharing partnership covering 70% of the population. Orange said the decision was made because of…