Newsroom EE

EE INTRODUCES A UK FIRST: FAST LANE™ ON 5G+, GIVING CUSTOMERS THE EDGE ON THE UK’S BEST NETWORK, WHEN THE NETWORK IS BUSIEST

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 09:00:00 +0100

EE’s Fast Lane is the UK’s first commercial network slice that gives both consumers and small businesses dedicated 5G+ connectivity at the busiest times on the network.
Available on EE’s 5G+ network, Fast Lane builds on several successful 5G+ network slicing trials and is the newest innovation from EE since it was named the UK’s best network for the 13^th year in a row. ¹
The new service gives consumers and small businesses an additional boost when the network is busy, by anticipating network congestion and moving them seamlessly into EE’s dedicated Fast Lane so they can continue to stream, share, and access the platforms that matter to them without slowing down.

EE has today launched a UK first, Fast Lane – an advanced network feature that connects consumers and small businesses across the UK to the highest performance 5G+ lane on EE's award-winning mobile network.

Fast Lane works by anticipating network congestion and seamlessly moving customer connections into a dedicated section of EE’s 5G+ network, so that – even when the network is busiest – they can continue to stream, share and socialise with uninterrupted speed, all on the UK’s best network.

Designed for use in high-footfall moments of the day like rush hour and major events, Fast Lane is the first service of its kind for both consumers and small businesses in the UK. It is the latest innovation built on EE’s rapidly expanding 5G+ network, which is now available to around 54 million people (78% of the UK population) across several hundred major UK towns and cities.

EE’s launch of Fast Lane follows multiple real-world trials of 5G+ network slicing over the last two years, supporting consumers and businesses at major events and iconic locations across the UK, including Wembley Stadium, Belfast Christmas Market, Sail GP in Portsmouth, this year’s EE BAFTAs, and, most recently, the Royal Welsh Show 2026.

As part of a £40 billion investment into the UK this decade, EE’s 5G+ network will be available to 99% of the population by the end of March 2030.

Claire Gillies, CEO of BT’s Consumer Division, said: “Powered by our advanced 5G+ network, Fast Lane gives our customers access to a dedicated 5G+ lane at the busiest times. Whether they’re live streaming a special moment from a sell-out gig or processing mobile payments and ticketing at a festival, Fast Lane helps keep customers connected even when thousands of people around them are trying to connect at the same time. This innovation builds on years of investment in EE’s 5G+ network and real-world network slicing trials, marking another milestone for the UK’s best network.”

“As the UK’s best network, we are committed to bringing our customers the very best in connectivity and innovation. Fast Lane is the latest example of how we're building on that leadership with the UK’s first commercial network slice to deliver meaningful benefits to both consumers and businesses.”

Consumers can use EE’s Fast Lane to livestream, video call, post on social media, navigate, and message even when the wider mobile network is under high demand. Whether they are booking a taxi after a gig, accessing digital tickets outside at a packed stadium or sharing their location in a busy city centre, Fast Lane means they can keep moving without stress.

For businesses, connectivity is the lifeblood of commerce. Whether they are joining video calls while travelling or taking card payments on the go, with Fast Lane businesses benefit from getting to the front of the customer queue, even when they are surrounded by hundreds of competing businesses all trying to connect to the same network.

How to get in the Fast Lane

For consumers who want Fast Lane, EE is introducing Full Works Plus, a new premium pay-monthly handset plan. Available with a compatible 5G+ device, Full Works Plus includes exclusive access to Fast Lane to help them stay connected during life's busiest moments. For just £5 more than EE's current Full Works plan, customers also benefit from unlimited data at maximum speeds, worldwide roaming, unlimited smartwatch data, family data gifting, a premium inclusive extra, Anytime Upgrade and Network Boost.

Fast Lane is also available from today to new and re-signing small business customers that take out an EE Full Works business plan on a 5G+ compatible handset.

To help more customers understand when they are connected to EE’s 5G+ network and benefitting from advanced connectivity features like Fast Lane, eligible customers will soon start seeing a 5G+ icon appearing on their smartphones. This is already available on new and select Android devices and will be rolled out more widely on other devices later this year.

More information on Fast Lane and EE’s 5G+ network is available here.

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Notes to Editors:

Customers must have a 5G+ compatible mobile plan, device, SIM, and be within a 5G+ enabled area of the UK to access Fast Lane. Information on how to use Fast Lane on your mobile is available here.

¹ The UK’s most reliable network claim based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H1 2026. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on all national mobile networks across all available network types. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

FROM THE STAGE TO THE SEASIDE: EE SUPERCHARGES SUMMER TO GIVE MILLIONS THE EDGE WITH 5G+

Mon, 01 Jun 2026 08:00:00 +0100

EE announces 5G+ will be improving the mobile experience at more than 25 of the UK’s biggest events and festivals across the UK this summer, covering sports, music, arts, culture, and food.
At the same time, people and businesses in more than 30 towns across the UK have been given a major signal boost as EE expands its 5G+ network ahead of the busy summer season.
Today, EE also launches a new nationwide advertising campaign to showcase how the enhanced reliability and capability of 5G+ is giving customers the edge when they need it most.

Millions of people attending the UK’s biggest events and festivals this summer will be able to benefit from a significant boost to their mobile connectivity, with fewer dropped calls, less buffering and more reliable signal, after EE revealed its 5G+ network will be activated at more than 25 major events – including BST Hyde Park, Isle of Wight Festival, Reading and Leeds Festival, the Formula One® British Grand Prix at Silverstone, the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow and many more. ¹

At the same time, people and businesses in more than 30 towns across the UK have been given a major signal boost as EE expands its 5G+ network ahead of the busy summer season.

These upgrades come as EE’s new nationwide advertising campaign, which launches today, highlights how customers can get the edge with 5G+, which is EE’s most powerful and reliable form of 5G connectivity.

5G+ has been designed to provide customers with stronger mobile internet connections, faster download and upload speeds, and improved video calling, especially in busy locations and at peak times.

By deploying 5G+ connectivity on its temporary mobile sites at festivals and events, EE is helping improve how attendees stay connected to friends and family, as well as how businesses engage with their customers – even in remote event locations or when the mobile network is at peak demand as thousands of people try to call, chat, and stream at the same time.

As part of a long-standing commitment to support culturally important events in all parts of the UK, EE will be making 5G+ available at major regional showcases, such as the Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival in Kiltarlity, the Devon County Show, and the Royal Welsh Show in Builth Wells where it has delivered permanent 5G+ connectivity for enhanced mobile performance all-year round.

Connecting communities and the country with 5G+

With customer usage of 5G+ increasing by more than 11% between March and April, EE is continuing to rapidly expand the coverage of its most reliable mobile technology to meet demand and ensure the benefits of 5G+ connectivity continue to be felt by communities and businesses in every corner of the UK.

5G+ on EE is now available to 75% of the UK population, with these latest upgrades meaning the technology covers more than 44 million people in England, over 2.1 million people in Wales and 3.3 million people in Scotland, as well as nearly one million people in Northern Ireland.

Many more places across the UK have recently benefitted from EE’s free connectivity boost ahead of the summer, including market and seaside towns and destinations popular with tourists:

Ballynahinch

Blackpool

Blackwood

Bournemouth

Canvey Island

Chepstow

Chester-le-Street

Coleraine

Dawlish

Dumbarton

East Kilbride

Eastleigh

Falkirk

Flint

Hebden Bridge

Holywell

Lisburn

Monmouth

Motherwell

Newport (Isle of Wight)

Pontypridd

Porthcawl

Rhyl

Risca

Roslin

St Ives (Cambridgeshire)

Stroud

Tonypandy

Torquay

Weston-super-Mare

Whitehaven

Whitley Bay

Winchester

“The summer has arrived and as our town centres and tourist hotspots get busier, staying connected with fast, secure and reliable mobile coverage has never been more important. 5G+ on EE has been designed to deliver exactly that, so whether you’re video-calling your friends from a packed festival crowd or just keeping in touch with your family while you’re shopping in the high street, switching to 5G+ means you can benefit from a more dependable connection,” said Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT – which connects EE, BT and Plusnet customers.

“We continue to build on our commitment to give customers access to the most reliable connectivity on the UK’s best mobile network. By investing in these latest 5G+ upgrades, we’re ensuring we’re on track to deliver our ambition to bring the UK’s highest quality 5G+ connectivity to 99% of the population by the end of March 2030,” he added.

EE expands UK-first rollout of ARC

As part of BT’s £40 billion investment in upgrading the UK’s network infrastructure this decade, EE customers are also benefitting from the roll out of ARC (Advanced RAN Coordination), a cutting-edge technology that enables mobile sites close to each other to dynamically share capacity in real time, instantly boosting network performance – particularly download speeds – by up to 20% without the need for additional masts.

After already making ARC live for customers in Edinburgh, Manchester and London, the technology is now improving the everyday mobile experience for EE customers in the busiest areas of Liverpool, Sheffield, Cardiff, Glasgow, Newcastle, and Leeds as part the UK’s first rollout of the technology.

All EE 5G customers are able to benefit from the improvements ARC is providing, however 5G+ customers will see the biggest boost to their network speeds and performance on their devices.

5G+ gives customers the edge when it matters most

With EE’s 5G+ network now being used by a growing number of people and businesses, the operator’s new advertising campaign launches nationwide today, highlighting how the reliability and capacity benefits of 5G+ help give customers the edge in everyday life; whether that is booking their next event tickets while at a festival stage or sliding in to bag the last e-bike on the commute home, with 5G+ customers can stay ahead when it matters most.

For more information on how to start benefitting from 5G+, head to www.ee.co.uk/why-ee/5g-on-ee

To check if EE’s 5G+ network is available in your local area, please visit: www.ee.co.uk/help/mobile-coverage-checker

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Notes to editors:

¹ Events where EE is deploying or has already deployed 5G+ this summer, include: All Points East, BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend 2026, Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival, Big Feastival, Boomtown, BST Hyde Park, Creamfields, Devon County Show, Download Festival, Eisteddfod, Formula One® British GP At Silverstone, Game Fair, Goodwood Festival Of Speed, Hillhead 2026, In It Together Festival, Isle Of Wight Festival, Kendall Calling, Latitude Festival, Lost Village, Leeds Festival, Parklife Festival, Reading Festival, Royal Ascot, The Royal Welsh Show, Ynot Festival, and the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Full list of smartphones, tablets, laptops and devices which are compatible with EE’s 5G+ network can be found here. Customers with 5G+ compatible devices, SIMs and plans will be able to access EE’s 5G+ network.

UK’s best network claim based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H2 2025. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on 4 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

EE DELIVERS BIG BOOST TO UK CONNECTIVITY WITH 5G+ NETWORK INNOVATIONS

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 07:30:00 +0100

EE unveils new network innovations to give millions of people, in every corner of the UK, the best 5G+ experiences on the devices they use every day.
With its next generation 5G+ connectivity expanding to cover more than 50 million people across the UK, EE has extended its use of world-first technologies to boost network performance and reliability in London and other major cities.

Millions of EE customers have received a huge boost to their mobile connectivity ahead of the summer as the operator unleashes major new network upgrades, including launching 5G+ to more than 50 million people and expanding the rollout of world-first technologies to enhance its network performance across the UK.

Fresh from having been recognised in multiple independent studies as providing the highest quality mobile connectivity in the UK, EE continues to innovate and improve its network performance for customers as part of a £40 billion investment into the UK's network infrastructure. *

Giving customers a boost with 5G+

Since the start of 2026, EE has extended its 5G+ connectivity to cover more than 50 million people across more than 610 towns and cities – far exceeding its original target to reach 41 million people by Spring 2026.

5G+ is EE’s most powerful form of 5G connectivity, which provides customers with more reliable mobile internet, faster download and upload speeds, and improved video call and gaming experiences in the busiest locations and at peak times. EE’s ambition is to deliver the UK’s highest quality 5G+ connectivity to 99% of the population by the end of March 2030.

“This milestone shows the pace at which we’re building the UK’s most advanced mobile network,” said Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group. “By expanding EE’s 5G+ coverage to millions more people and being the first in the world to launch new network technologies, we’re giving our customers more reliable and resilient connectivity in the places where it matters most.”

Some of the most recent towns and cities benefitting from EE’s free 5G+ connectivity boost include:

Aberystwyth
Antrim
Bangor (North Wales)
Barnsley
Cheltenham
Chichester
Cirencester
Dorchester
Erskine
Melton Mowbray
Merthyr Tydfil
Newbury
Preston
Salford
St Austell

The rapid expansion of EE’s 5G+ network has resulted in a 54% increase in monthly customer usage on 5G+ during the last six months alone, with more customers than ever now reaping the benefits of the technology.

Smarter spectrum, faster speeds

To ensure customers get the best day-to-day experience on 5G+, EE has reallocated its 2.1GHz (2100MHz) spectrum across more than 4,000 mobile sites to deliver greater network capacity, stronger indoor coverage and improved upload speeds for 5G+ customers, particularly in built-up areas where demand is highest. EE plans to upgrade 5,000 more mobile sites in this way in the next few months.

Customers using EE’s 5G+ network are also enjoying considerably faster download speeds after EE became the UK’s first network to launch five carrier aggregation on its 5G+ enabled mobile sites.

This landmark upgrade was completed last month and allows compatible 5G+ smartphones and devices to combine the power of five spectrum bands at once, resulting in 10% faster download speeds on average and improved performance when streaming video.

A new ARC in EE’s network evolution

EE has also announced further progress on the rollout of ARC (Advanced RAN Coordination), a cutting-edge technology that enables mobile sites close to each other to dynamically share capacity in real time – instantly boosting network performance by 20% without the need for additional masts.

As the first network in the world – and only one in the UK – to deploy the technology, EE customers benefit from ARC’s unique offering, getting the most reliable experience in busy locations like train stations, high streets and city centres.

Following the successful launch of the technology in Manchester and Edinburgh last year, ARC is now also live on EE’s 5G+ network in London.

By the end of May 2026, it will be available in more of the UK’s busiest cities including Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Sheffield.

EE customers in these places using the latest 5G+ devices and plans (on both iOS and Android) will see the biggest performance improvements.

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Notes to editors:

* BT Group - of which EE is a part - is currently one of the biggest investors into UK infrastructure and will have invested more than £40bn into the country between 2020 and 2030. Latest on BT Group's network investments here.

Full list of smartphones, tablets, laptops and devices which are compatible with EE’s 5G+ network can be found here. Customers need a compatible device, SIM and plan to be able to access 5G+ technology.

RESULTS REVEALED – EE NAMED NATION’S NUMBER ONE NETWORK IN LANDMARK UK MOBILE STUDY

Mon, 18 Aug 2025 06:30:00 +0100

More than half a million tests were conducted as part of one of the UK’s longest-running studies into mobile network performance to prove which operators provide the highest quality connectivity.
EE retains its crown as the UK’s best network for a record-breaking 12^th year in a row, coming first in 127 of 128 awards and demonstrably providing the most reliable network, so customers have a great experience video calling, streaming or mobile gaming.
Rankings also show EE delivers the UK’s best 5G experience and average download speeds more than double that of Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media O2.

The results of one the UK’s longest-running studies analysing mobile network performance have been revealed, showing that EE provides the best and most reliable mobile connectivity across the UK – meaning millions of people and businesses would benefit from a better mobile experience by switching to EE.

RootMetrics®, a team of independent mobile analysts, have spent the last six months travelling to all parts of the UK and conducting more than half a million tests to provide the most robust and definitive picture of the performance of all the UK’s mobile network operators – EE, Vodafone, Three and Virgin Media O2.

This included extensive drive and walk tests in the UK’s largest 16 cities and rural communities in each of the four nations, as well as along more than 22,000 miles of roads and almost 800 indoor locations.

These tests examined the mobile network experience in real-life situations in a variety of locations and scenarios and found:

Overall, EE provides the most reliable mobile connectivity in more places than anyone else, naming it the UK’s best network for a record-breaking 12 years in a row.
The widespread availability and high-performance of EE’s network mean customers get the best connectivity for mobile gaming and video streaming – whether that’s TV shows or virtual meetings.
EE delivers the UK’s best 5G experience and has the UK’s highest average download speeds – more than double any other operator (110.8 Mbps vs next best at 48.4 Mbps).
Out of the 128 individual RootMetrics® awards available across all locations, EE came 1^st or joint-1^st in 127 – including 89 outright wins.

Claire Gillies, Chief Executive Officer at EE, said: "While others are busy making promises, we are focused on delivering the best network to connect the lives of millions of people across the UK every single day.

“Everyone has their own unique connectivity needs and what this research shows is that whether you are streaming in Southampton, gaming in Glasgow, or video calling your friends in Cardiff, the nation gets a better network experience on EE.”

When analysing all UK mobile networks for the quality of their 5G connectivity, RootMetrics® testing focused on two main areas: network availability and quality of performance. The results proved EE delivers the best 5G experience in the UK, with the highest average 5G download speeds (241.2 Mbps). This has been made possible thanks to the widespread availability of EE’s 5G network, which Ofcom data shows is greater than anyone else.

With EE’s 5G network now covering more than 87% of the population, and its 5G standalone network available to more than 34 million people, EE customers – on both iOS and Android – are getting a better, faster and more reliable 5G service in more places than those people relying on other UK networks.

This is reflected in the fact that EE now has the highest proportion of 5G connections of any UK operator according to Ofcom, with RootMetrics® finding that EE delivered the best 5G experience in many major cities including: Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Here is a snapshot of the network awards EE has won following the independent testing conducted by RootMetrics® throughout the UK in 2025:

The Nation’s #1 Network
The UK’s Best Network for 12 years
The UK’s Most Reliable Network
The UK’s Best 5G Experience
The UK’s Fastest Network
The UK’s Best Network for Video
The UK’s Best Network for Gaming
The UK’s Most Reliable Network for Mobile Gaming
The UK’s Most Responsive Network
The UK’s Best Network for Calls
The UK’s Best Network for Data Performance
The Best Network in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

To see how all UK networks compared, read the full report here: https://www.ookla.com/research/reports/rootmetrics-uk-state-of-mobile-union-1h-2025

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Notes to editors:

All rankings based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H1 2025. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on 4 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

MILLIONS GET MOBILE NETWORK BOOST AS EE EXPANDS 5G STANDALONE FOR THE UK

Tue, 22 Jul 2025 05:30:00 +0100

By the end of August 2025, EE’s 5G standalone network will be available to more than 34 million people, covering over half of the entire UK population.
Customers in Aberdeen, Canterbury, Ipswich, Loughborough, Paignton, Windsor and Wrexham among millions set to benefit as EE makes more than 45 new locations live this summer.
5G standalone customers on EE get access to a smoother, more reliable and more secure mobile connection built for better livestreaming, video calling and mobile gaming.

More than 34 million people will be able to access the UK’s most advanced and reliable mobile technology this summer, as the nationwide rollout of EE’s new 5G standalone network hits a major milestone.

By the end of August, EE’s 5G standalone network will be available to more than half of the UK population, including major cities, tourist hotspots and major sport and entertainment venues – which would make it the UK’s biggest 5G standalone network less than a year on from launch. ¹

EE’s ambition is to make 5G standalone available to more than 41 million people by spring 2026.

Several towns and cities across the UK have already had their mobile connectivity boosted in recent weeks, with EE making 5G standalone live in Carlisle, Chesterfield, Hemel Hempstead, Newcastle-under-Lyme, Gosport, Slough, Stoke-on-Trent, Sutton Coldfield and York among others.

In the next month, customers in a further 38 locations will also benefit from a boost to their network performance. These include Aberdeen, Beverley, Blyth, Boston, Canterbury, Chippenham, Cleethorpes, Crawley, Derby, Exmouth, Great Malvern, Grimsby, Halifax, Harlow, Havant, Inverness, Ipswich, Leyland, Lichfield, Loughborough, Norwich, Paignton, Peterborough, Royal Leamington Spa, Salisbury, Shrewsbury, St Albans, St Neots, Sutton in Ashfield, Trowbridge, Wellingborough, Whitley Bay, Windsor, Winsford, Wishaw, Wokingham, Wrexham, Yeovil.

As well as expanding the availability of its 5G standalone network at an unprecedented pace, EE has now also made its Voice over 5G standalone (Vo5G) feature available to iOS and Android users in the UK with 5GSA-compatible devices and plans. These customers are now able to make voice calls in more places, with faster setup times that reduce the delay between dialling a number and the phone starting to ring – keeping them connected to the people they care about most, when it matters. ²

5G standalone is a new type of mobile connectivity built to unleash the true power of 5G for EE customers throughout the UK, delivering smoother livestreaming, faster loading and upload speeds, better indoor connectivity, as well as improved video calls and mobile gaming. The network has been built to deliver up to 100 times more capacity than 4G connectivity, making it significantly better at handling demands from lots of devices at once – delivering more reliable mobile internet for EE customers even in busy areas like train stations and high streets, and during major events at places like Wembley Stadium.

As well as significant improvements for customers, building a nationwide 5G standalone network will also deliver a huge boost to the UK economy, with new research showing it can help unlock up to £230 billion in benefits and productivity enhancements for the nation.

“Whether you are video calling from a crowded train station, livestreaming on social media from a sold-out concert, or simply staying in touch with your family and friends over the summer holidays, 5G standalone on EE makes your experience smoother, faster and more secure,” said Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group.

“Delivering a high-quality mobile experience every day for millions of people is what matters to us, it’s what has driven us to build the UK’s most reliable network and why we’re now delivering 5G standalone to more people in more places across the UK.” ³

The number of smartphones, tablets and laptops that are compatible with 5G standalone has grown significantly, with devices from Apple, Samsung, Google, Honor, Nothing, Lenovo, Sony, TCL and Microsoft all enabled to connect to EE’s most advanced network. ⁴

To access 5G standalone, customers will need to be in a location where 5G standalone is available, have a compatible device and an EE 5GSA-ready SIM card or eSIM as part of their monthly plan.

To ensure more people experience the benefits of the cutting-edge technology, 5G standalone is available on EE to all new and upgrading customers taking any EE pay monthly handset plan.

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Notes to editors:

¹ Based on publicly available information on the reach of 5G standalone networks for UK operators.

² Faster call setup times for 5G standalone customers using Voice over 5G (Vo5G) vs EPS fallback.

³ UK’s most reliable network claim based on the RootMetrics® UK RootScore® Report: H2 2024. Tested at locations across the UK with the best commercially available smartphones on 4 national mobile networks across all available network types. Your experiences may vary. The RootMetrics award is not an endorsement of EE. Visit ee.co.uk/claims for more details.

⁴ Full list of smartphones, tablets, laptops and devices which are compatible with EE’s 5G standalone network can be found here.

Locations where EE’s 5G standalone network is already available include: Ashton-Under-Lyne, Altrincham, Barrow-in-Furness, Barry, Bath, Belfast, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Blackburn, Bradford, Bridgend, Bristol, Bury, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Corby, Coventry, Cwmbran, Doncaster, Dudley, Dundee, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, Huddersfield, Hull, Hyde, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Newport, Nottingham, Port Talbot, Rotherham, Sale, Sheffield, St Helens, Stockport, Sunderland, Swansea, Wakefield, Walkden, Weston Super Mare, Wigan, Wilmslow, Wolverhampton.

EE UNVEILS 5G STANDALONE UPGRADE FOR MORE THAN 28 MILLION PEOPLE

Wed, 19 Mar 2025 07:59:28 +0000

The rollout of EE’s 5G standalone network continues at pace with more towns and cities set to be upgraded this month – including Exeter, Caerphilly, Doncaster, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
By the end of March 2025, EE’s 5G standalone network will be live and available to over 28 million people across 50 major towns and cities in the UK – covering more than 40 percent of the population.
Following the rollout, and the growing range of compatible smartphones, 5G standalone will be available from today to all new and upgrading customers taking any EE pay monthly handset plan.

5G standalone, the UK’s most reliable mobile technology, is being made available to customers in more towns and cities across the UK following major upgrades by mobile operator EE.

Having launched 5G standalone in September 2024, EE continues to expand the UK’s most advanced network, which will be available to over 28 million people across 50 major towns and cities by the end of March 2025. Coinciding with the rollout, EE is making 5G standalone available to all new and upgrading customers taking any EE handset plan from today.

EE only announces 5G standalone availability once a location has at least 95% outdoor coverage so customers upgrading to the new technology know they will receive a reliable and consistent experience. Some of the new places set to benefit from EE’s 5G standalone upgrades in the next few weeks include:

Altrincham
Blackburn
Bridgend
Caerphilly
Corby
Cwmbran
Doncaster
Exeter
Huddersfield
Hyde
Middlesbrough
Milton Keynes
Port Talbot
Rotherham
Sale
Sunderland
Wakefield
Walkden
Wilmslow

Customers that take a 5G standalone mobile plan will receive an uplift to their network performance in these locations, including smoother and more reliable video calls, livestreaming and online gaming, even in congested areas and at peak times.

The availability of smartphones and connected devices capable of harnessing 5G standalone has grown considerably since EE first launched its service, with brands including Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, Nokia, TCL and Honor now offering compatible smartphones – many of which also have built-in AI applications. One of the benefits of 5G standalone is that it can provide a smoother experience for customers using the newest AI tools on their devices, such as Galaxy AI and Gemini AI, both now and in the future.

In support of the ongoing coverage rollout and wider smartphone ecosystem, from today, EE is making 5G standalone available to all new and upgrading customers taking any EE handset plan, enabling more consumers to access this next-generation network experience.

“5G standalone is giving many customers a better and more reliable mobile experience, especially in busy locations. As we rapidly expand our network footprint to cover more than 40 percent of the UK population, we are widening its accessibility so more people can benefit – especially those looking to harness the power of cutting-edge features on the newest smartphones,” said Malcolm Cubitt, Director of Mobile at EE.

Smartphones and tablets using 5G standalone connect directly to a pure 5G network, rather than relying on 4G, so benefit from additional capacity to provide a better mobile experience in busy areas like high streets, train stations and major stadiums – including at Wembley Stadium, where EE recently became the first operator to launch its 5G standalone network.

For more information on how to access 5G standalone on EE, please visit: ee.co.uk/why-ee/5g-on-ee

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