All products and promotions are independently selected by our experts. To help us provide free impartial advice, we will earn an affiliate commission if you buy something. Click here to learn more
EE has confirmed 16 new locations set to benefit from its standalone 5G network. The upgrade to the supercharged new mobile network — known as 5G Standalone, or 5GSA — will take place before the end of the year, the mobile operator has confirmed.
The BT-owned network announced its upgraded 5G network last month, flipping a switch to enable the upgraded sigal in the four UK capitals and a number of other metropolitan areas. At the same event, EE unveiled its first Wi-Fi 7-enabled broadband routers — the fastest of any major broadband supplier in the UK.
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
EE has confirmed the next 16 towns and cities across the UK set to be upgraded to the speedier, more efficient 5G Standalone network
EE PRESS OFFICE
According to EE, customers who switch over to its next-generation 5G network will unlock faster download speeds, better signal indoors, and improvements to battery life on their smartphones and tablets.
As it stands, 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 the 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.
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.
EE has committed to delivering at least 95% outdoor coverage in every town or city where it confirms plans to launch 5G standalone, so if your local area is supported by the new standard, you're sure to unlock the most reliable and consistent experience across the network.
Network performance data tracked by EE shows 5G standalone is already delivering a better mobile internet experience, with customers using the network benefitting from improved video calls, streaming and online gaming, both in and out of their homes — as well as higher quality voice calls even in congested areas, the BT-owned network has confirmed.
Speaking to Press Association at the launch, EE CEO Marc Allera revealed that, over time, the new end-to-end 5G network would start to get more “intelligent” and be able to adapt automatically to how it was being used, bolstering energy efficiency over time.
As part of the first major shake-up since its launch, EE has confirmed the 16 new locations being added to the standalone 5G network:
With the addition of these new locations, EE says its standalone 5G network will cover an area of more than 21 million people. To unlock all of these benefits, you'll need a newer EE SIM card that supports this re-engineered 5G network.
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.
EE has said it believes the technology will be the backbone of future services, as its better performance would be well placed to handle the growing number of AI-powered services, many of which require more energy and bandwidth to run smoothly.
The operator said customers could also see improvements in their phone’s battery life because of the improved energy efficiency of the network. At the time of the launch, EE chief executive Marc Allera said the new network had been "designed to unleash the huge potential of a wave of AI-powered devices."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
"5G standalone is a new mobile network giving enhanced performance to customers from day one and unlocks game-changing new services of the future," he said. "It’s been built to handle the growing range of AI-powered devices, from smartphones to laptops, tablets and more."
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
EE PRESS OFFICE
Prices for SIM-only plans compatible with the next-generation 5GSA standard start from £42 per month.
For that, you'll get the Unlimited All-Rounder bundle, which comes with unlimited mobile data allowance — so you'll never need to worry about running out of 5G data when streaming video, games, or songs on-the-move, smartwatch data inclusive (something that usually costs an extra £7 every month), EU roaming at no extra cost — something that EE ditched from all of its new SIM-only plans three years ago, and one Inclusive Extra.
These perks include the likes of a Netflix subscription or Google One. If you're already with EE for your home broadband, including its record-breaking new Wi-Fi 7 packages, you'll unlock £20 off bills every month.
Additional Reporting By Martyn Landi, PA Technology Correspondent
