As the countdown to the new school year begins, French telecom operator SFR has unveiled a new connected watch designed specifically for children, offering parents a way to stay in touch without exposing their kids to the open internet or social media. The “Pack Kids Protégés” arrives more than a year after rival Bouygues Telecom launched a similar device, signaling a growing market for child-safe connectivity.
The timing is no coincidence. With children returning to classrooms in just thirteen days, many will also resume their digital habits, including online games, messaging apps, and social networks. Recent data underscores parental anxiety: a Norton Insights study found that 54% of parents whose children play games with integrated chat report their child has already spoken with a stranger. Meanwhile, the rise of artificial intelligence has introduced new risks, from deepfakes to misleading content, with 54% of parents unsure if their child can distinguish AI-generated material from real information.
A Direct Copy of Bouygues Telecom’s Offering
SFR’s new pack is strikingly similar to the “Kids Watch” launched by Bouygues Telecom in 2025. Both include a connected watch equipped with a SIM card that can make and receive calls and messages, but crucially, it has no access to the internet, social networks, or premium-rate calls. SFR describes the device as an “intelligent alternative to a first smartphone.”
The watch, manufactured by Chinese brand Honor, is paired with a 5 GB mobile plan. Parents can manage contacts and settings through a companion app, ensuring the child can only communicate with approved family members and friends.
Safety Features and “Class Mode”
Beyond basic communication, the watch includes several features aimed at peace of mind. An integrated SOS button allows children to send an emergency alert during daily commutes or extracurricular activities. Real-time GPS tracking lets parents monitor their child’s location, and they can define “trusted zones” to receive alerts if the child leaves a designated area.
A “class mode” function silences notifications during school hours, addressing concerns about distraction in the classroom. These features mirror those offered by Bouygues Telecom, making the two products nearly indistinguishable on paper.
Pricing Mirrors the Competition
The pricing structure is also a copy-paste of Bouygues Telecom’s offer. The watch itself costs just one euro upfront, followed by a monthly payment of three euros for two years. The mobile plan is priced at 4.99 euros per month for SFR box subscribers, while non-subscribers pay an additional seven euros per month.
Other players are entering the space as well. Ice-Watch markets the ICE kids 4G, a children’s smartwatch with 4G connectivity and an integrated nano-SIM. Parents control all communications—voice or video calls, voice messages, texts, photos, and family group chats—through a dedicated app.
A Growing Market for Child Protection
The launch raises a question: is this genuine concern for children’s digital wellbeing or a lucrative new market? Either way, French operators have ramped up their offerings in recent months. Before this watch, SFR introduced a “Pack Ado Protégés” in February, featuring a restricted smartphone from French brand Neow with built-in parental controls, screen time limits, app approval, and real-time geolocation.
Bouygues Telecom has offered a “Mode Enfant” since June, which includes screen time tracking, web filtering to block inappropriate sites, safe search, and device location. Orange, meanwhile, sells SaferPhone, a plan that protects children from excessive screen time, shocking content, cyberbullying, and unwanted calls, with support for setup and usage.
As the French government pushes to ban social media for those under 15, telecom operators are positioning themselves as key players in the fight against hyperconnectivity among children. Whether driven by ethics or economics, the result is a growing array of tools for parents seeking a middle ground between total disconnection and an unfiltered smartphone.
