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If you have an EE SIM inside your smartphone, prepare for a blockbuster speed boost. EE will roll out its upgraded mobile network to 47 new locations across the UK next month.
In total, a whopping 34 million people nationwide will now be covered by its supercharged new 5G network. For the first time, more than half the UK population will have access to this supercharged network.
If you have a compatible handset and SIM-only plan from EE, there's no need to take any action to benefit from the faster speeds and more reliable connection. As soon as the next-generation mobile network arrives in your local area, you can access faster downloads and improved 5G signal indoors.
EE PRESS OFFICE | EE CEO Marc Allera announced the new innovations at the BT Head Office in East London
EE announced its upgraded 5G network in September last year, flipping the switch to enable its upgraded signal in all four UK capitals on launch day, plus several other densely-populated areas.
EE says its included the underlying technology in its SIM cards for some time, so if you've recently upgraded to a newer plan, it's possible you won't need to request a new one. Of course, compatible handsets with eSIM will be able to jump over to the new standalone 5G network immediately.
The new mobile network standard, known as 5G Standalone or 5GSA, unlocks faster download speeds, better mobile data signal indoors, and improvements to battery life on their smartphones and tablets. Since its splashy launch event, EE has slowly been working to make its 5G Standalone network available in more places nationwide, with Wembley Stadium becoming the first sports venue in the UK with its own permanent 5G Standalone network earlier this year.
Save £252 when you upgrade to EE 5G standalone with Netflix + EU roaming at no cost
To unlock access to EE's 5G Standalone network, you'll need to upgrade to a new SIM card. EE offers unlimited mobile data for your Apple Watch or other smartwatch, a speedy VIP connection when the network is busy, and no additional charges when roaming in the EU with its 5GSA plans. You can also pick an extra, like a Netflix subscription, or Google One Premium 2TB plan — saving £252 with this limited time offer
All-Rounder SIM-Only Deal
$48
$27
The latest tranche, rolling out across the UK in August, is the most ambitious infrastructure upgrade to date, switching on the enhanced mobile network in over 45 additional locations over the summer months. We've got the complete list of UK towns and cities where you'll benefit from the enhanced 5G network below.
If you live in any of these locations, you should soon experience a dramatically improved mobile connection. Video calls should be buffer-free, streaming from Netflix or YouTube on mobile data should be faster, and mobile gaming should be more responsive.
The enhanced network is specifically engineered to handle data-intensive activities with greater efficiency.
EE PRESS OFFICE | EE has rebuilt its network from the ground-up to offer improved speed, better reliability, and efficiency gains. It comes a few weeks after it debuted the fastest Wi-Fi router from any nationwide provider Whether you're broadcasting live content on social media, catching up with family or friends via a video call, backing up your photos to the cloud while away from Wi-Fi, or downloading a software update, EE customers should notice the difference in performance and reliability.
The boosted network should also improve calls too.
EE says its upgraded mobile network will ensure voice calls boast enhanced clarity and reduced connection times. It's all thanks to a new Voice over 5G, which is rolling out to both iOS and Android devices now. By relying on the 5G Standalone network to connect calls, EE customers should notice a smaller wait between dialling and hearing the first ring.
Chief Networks Officer at BT Group, Greg McCall told GB News: "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.
"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."
To access these enhanced speeds, you'll need a compatible 5GSA-equipped device. Fortunately, this technology is becoming the new standard, with popular manufacturers like Apple, Samsung, Google, Honor, Nothing, Lenovo, and Sony all releasing models that support the speedier network.
It's not only smartphones that boast compatibility, with some laptops and tablets equipped with 5GSA.
At launch, EE SIM-only plans with access to the next-generation 5G Standalone network started from £48 a month. However, that monthly fee has dropped dramatically in recent months. In the latest EE sale, you can secure this all-singing, all-dancing SIM-only plan for just £27 — saving you £252 over the course of a year.
EE PRESS OFFICE
|EE's Smart Wi-Fi Pro (pictured) is designed to extend the Wi-Fi 7 network throughout your home with a mesh network. It also has additional ethernet ports, if you prefer a wired connection at your desk, or a gaming den in the attic, for example
Until the arrival of 5G Standalone, EE customers' devices bounce between 5G and 4G, depending on the coverage. As the name suggests, EE 5GSA is a completely separate network that uses the latest 5G wireless standard end-to-end.
It's this newfound consistency of this new connection that will improve battery life, since there's no need for your smartphone to switch between 4G and 5G networks in the background throughout the day.
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By stripping out older 4G architecture entirely from its new EE 5GSA network, you'll be able to expect better consistency in mobile download speeds as you move from outdoors to indoors.
At the same event as its 5G Standalone announcement, EE unveiled its first Wi-Fi 7-enabled broadband routers, the fastest of any major broadband supplier in the UK.
Since then, Vodafone has launched its own Wi-Fi 7 router to match these next-generation speeds, and Sky Broadband leapfrogged both rival broadband firms with faster download speeds.
The complete list of 47 locations that will receive enhanced 5G standalone connectivity in the UK:
- Aberdeen
- Beverley
- Blyth
- Boston
- Canterbury
- Carlisle
- Chesterfield
- Chippenham
- Cleethorpes
- Crawley
- Derby
- Exmouth
- Gosport
- Great Malvern
- Grimsby
- Halifax
- Harlow
- Havant
- Hemel Hempstead
- Inverness
- Ipswich
- Leyland
- Lichfield
- Loughborough
- Newcastle-under-Lyme
- Norwich
- Paignton
- Peterborough
- Royal Leamington Spa
- Salisbury
- Shrewsbury
- Slough
- St Albans
- St Neots
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Sutton Coldfield
- Sutton in Ashfield
- Trowbridge
- Wellingborough
- Whitley Bay
- Windsor
- Winsford
- Wishaw
- Wokingham
- Wrexham
- Yeovil
- York
Save £252 when you upgrade to EE 5G standalone with Netflix + EU roaming at no cost
To unlock access to EE's 5G Standalone network, you'll need to upgrade to a new SIM card. EE offers unlimited mobile data for your Apple Watch or other smartwatch, a speedy VIP connection when the network is busy, and no additional charges when roaming in the EU with its 5GSA plans. You can also pick an extra, like a Netflix subscription, or Google One Premium 2TB plan — saving £252 with this limited time offer
All-Rounder SIM-Only Deal
$48
$27
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