EE, the super-fast mobile network operator, has announced 16 new locations to bring its 5G standalone network to more than 30 major UK towns and cities.
All locations that are part of EE’s expansion efforts will be live before the end of 2024, as the mobile network operator (MNO) rolls out its 5G standalone network to more than 30 major towns and cities across the UK.
Each location is expected to have at least 95% outdoor coverage to offer customers reliable and consistent network performance. This is significant for EE, as it deploys the fastest mobile technology in the UK, with 5G standalone expected to offer its customers improved video calls, streaming and online gaming, in addition to higher quality voice calls in busy places.
Based exclusively on cloud-native 5G Core and 5G Radio architecture, 5G standalone brings new capabilities to deliver a more powerful user experience, enhanced efficiency and new opportunities for businesses.
EE explains that it’s also designed to optimise the performance of AI applications to ensure mobile customers can access the best AI experiences now and in the future.
Advancing UK connectivity
Whilst EE has consistently been voted the best mobile network in the UK, the MNO is always looking for new and improved ways to bolster its ability to connect customers with the fastest speeds.
Towns and cities across the UK are set to benefit from a major upgrade in mobile connectivity as EE announces plans to roll out its 5G standalone network to an additional 16 locations before the end of the year.
The cities that are covered include all capital cities across the UK and major metropolitan areas where connectivity is most needed, including Manchester, Liverpool and Glasgow.
These additional locations are also popular tourist destinations, commuter towns and centres of essential industry, with EE’s most advanced mobile network expecting to cover an area of more than 21 people – almost one-third of the UK population.
An expansion at this has come at an ideal time for the UK mobile industry, with the UK government promising in its 2024 Autumn Budget to invest more than £500m (US$647.68m) of funding in 2025 to improve reliable and fast broadband and mobile coverage across the nation.
With the UK eager to embrace continued 5G and 6G advancements, such pledges from leading MNOs is crucial to the future of the telco sector and improving the overall economy.
“Our ambition is to enable a 5G connection anywhere in the U.K. by 2028,” Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group (EE’s parent company) told RCR Wireless News. “The strength of our underlying 4G network has put us in a good position to make widespread 5G coverage improvements outside of big cities, with EE’s 5G now available to nearly 80% of the U.K. population.
“We’ve made strong progress in bringing 5G to smaller communities across the U.K., as well as to popular rural tourist destinations and National Parks.”
In pursuit of improved 5G
According to network performance data, 5G standalone is already delivering a better mobile internet experience. For instance, customers using the network are already benefiting from improved services both inside and outside of the home and even in congested areas.
EE states this is because smartphones and tablets using 5G standalone are able to directly connect to a pure 5G network, rather than via 4G. As a result, customers are benefitting from the network’s additional capacity in busy areas and during major events, which includes sports matches and concerts.
The carrier, owned by BT Group, currently reaches nearly 80% of the UK population and expects to reach nationwide coverage with its 5G network by 2028.
“At BT Group, we’ve refreshed our network strategy so that we’re laser focused on developing a fully programmable network which is on-demand, real time, AI-first and offers best-in-class security capabilities,” Greg tells RCR Wireless News.
“Our new 5G standalone network is a central pillar of this strategy, representing a leap forward in capability which will help to deliver on the real promise of what 5G can do, both for consumers and the enterprise – whether that’s optimising AI and cloud-gaming experiences, or the ability to harness network slicing for dedicated quality of service.”
EE’s 5G standalone products are also designed to optimise the performance of AI applications. Cutting-edge AI tools like Galaxy AI and Gemini AI are able to connect to the cloud to offer a fast and seamless experience for customers.
The network is available on EE across a range of the latest smartphones and devices and comes included with EE’s new Full Works and All Rounder plans. These also provide unlimited mobile and smartwatch data, EU Roaming, Network Boost and access to inclusive extras from brands such as Apple, Google, TNT Sports, Xbox and Netflix.
