UK’s leading mobile provider announces set of 5G+ network upgrades as it continues coverage roll-out while embarking on plan to improve overall performance at scaleIn the closing months of 2025, EE, the UK’s leading operator, pressed the pedal to the metal in the deployment of 5G standalone (5G SA) services. Now, the company has announced a significant expansion of its 5G+ services, reaching over 50 million people across 61 towns and cities in the UK. This expansion comes as a result of increased capacity and performance, in response to the accelerating usage of 5G+ by customers.
EE first unveiled its 5G SA network in September 2024, with an initial launch in 15 cities across the UK. These included Bath, Belfast, Birmingham, Bradford, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, London, Manchester, and Sheffield. At the time of launch, EE boasted that its 5G SA network was designed to deliver up to 100 times more capacity than 4G connectivity. This made it significantly more adept at handling the demands of numerous devices simultaneously.
The upgraded network promised a smoother, more reliable, and more secure mobile connection, ideal for live streaming, video calling, and mobile gaming. It also supported enhanced voice calls in more places, with faster setup times that reduced the delay between dialling a number and the phone starting to ring via voice over 5G (Vo5G) standalone.
Among the most recent towns and cities to benefit from free 5G+ connectivity from EE are Aberystwyth, Antrim, Bangor, Barnsley, Cheltenham, Chichester, Cirencester, Dorchester, Erskine, Melton Mowbray, Merthyr Tydfil, Newbury, Preston, Salford, and St Austell. EE has now surpassed its original target of reaching 41 million people with 5G+ by spring 2026.
“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.”
The expansion of EE’s 5G+ network has led to a 54% increase in monthly customer usage. To ensure customers receive the best possible experience on 5G+, EE has reallocated its 2.1GHz (2100MHz) spectrum across more than 4,000 mobile sites. This has resulted in greater network capacity, stronger indoor coverage, and improved upload speeds for 5G+ customers. This is particularly beneficial in built-up areas where demand is highest. EE plans to upgrade 5,000 more mobile sites in this way in the coming months.
EE also reported that its 5G+ customers are enjoying considerably faster download speeds. This is due to the establishment of the UK’s first network to launch five carrier aggregation on its 5G+ enabled mobile sites. This technology allows compatible 5G+ smartphones and devices to combine the power of five spectrum bands at once. According to the company, this has resulted in 10% faster download speeds on average and improved performance.
In conclusion, EE’s commitment to expanding and improving its 5G+ network is a testament to the company’s dedication to providing its customers with the most advanced and reliable mobile connectivity. As the demand for 5G+ continues to grow, EE is poised to continue leading the way in the UK’s mobile network industry.
