EE is expanding its 5G standalone (5G SA) network to additional towns and cities across the UK as part of a major upgrade.
The operator, which launched 5G SA in September 2024, aims to cover over 28 million people in 50 locations by the end of March 2025.
The latest expansion includes towns such as Altrincham, Blackburn, Doncaster, Exeter, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, and Sunderland. EE only announces 5G SA availability in areas where it has achieved at least 95 per cent outdoor coverage.
Customers with a 5G SA plan will see improved network performance, including more reliable video calls, streaming, and gaming, even in busy areas. The technology connects directly to a dedicated 5G network rather than relying on 4G, providing additional capacity in high-traffic locations such as city centres, train stations, and stadiums.
EE’s 5G SA service is available on smartphones from brands including Apple, Samsung, Google, and Motorola. From today, all new and upgrading customers on an EE handset plan will have access to the network.
Standalone 5G offers several advantages regular 5G, which relies on a 4G core network. Here are the key benefits. These are lower latency, higher Speeds and capacity more reliability and consistency, allows operators to create custom virtual networks for different use cases. improved battery efficiency, support for AI and IoT, and improved security.
Vodafone introduced its 5G SA network, branded as “5G Ultra,” in June 2023. Three UK has not yet launched its 5G SA network but will have it as part of the new combined Vodafone and Three company.
