What is 5G?

5G is the next generation of mobile network technology. It offers a more reliable signal in busy places, speeds like you've never seen before and an almost instant connection to the content you love.

5G isn’t replacing 4G, it’s working with it for an unparalleled new experience. We’re launching it where our customers need it most: in the busiest spots, in the busiest cities.

What does 5G mean for our 4G network?

As well as launching 5G where customers need it most, we’re committed to expanding our 4G coverage to make the UK's best network even better. We’ll keep rolling out 4G coverage into new areas of the UK that have never had a high-speed mobile data connection before, including remote and rural communities.

Plus we’re continuing to increase 4G coverage indoors and make it available in more places that make a massive difference to customers.

What’s exciting about the future of 5G?

5G has all sorts of possibilities and what’s really exciting is that we don’t even know what some of those are yet. It will be at the heart of factory and home automation, differentiated gaming experiences and the driverless car revolution. And with 5G-powered AR we’ll see our physical and digital lives merge.

But that's just the start of what's possible! Information and entertainment will be brought to life digitally, and blended with the real world around you to make your life better and easier. 5G will create incredible new 'immersive' experiences, where it's not evenpossible to tell the difference between the real world and the digital world. And we’ll see customers connecting their devices wherever they are to do more of the things they love.

What speeds can I expect with 5G?

With 5G, customers will reach a major milestone: 1 Gigabit per second speeds to their smartphones. Average speeds will be between 100 and 300Mbps, download times for songs will halve to 10 seconds and HD movies will be available in less than a minute. Plus you'll always have the highest resolution when you're streaming video.

Where are you launching 5G?

In 2019 we’ll be switching on 5G sites in 16 UK cities. The launch cities will be the UK’s four capitals –London, Cardiff, Edinburgh and Belfast –as well as Birmingham and Manchester.

Throughout 2019 we’ll also be introducing 5G across ten more UK cities: Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Bristol.

When will 5G arrive in my area?

We're upgrading 100 sites to 5G every single month, and we're doing it in the busiest parts of the busiest cities. We're alsoupgrading our 4G capacity and coverage to ensure that everyone's connection keeps getting better.

Why isn't 5G launching in my city/area?

For launch, our plan is to build 5G in the busiest spots of the busiest cities in the UK where our customers need it the most–and then continue a nationwide roll out. Please keep an eye on our roll out plan if you're interested in 5G.

Is 5G roll out in cities only or are you rolling out to other places?

We’re building 5G in the busiest places –where there is the greatest need for the extra capacity. We'll have 1,500 5G sites across 16 cities by the end of 2019, and we're upgrading more than 100 sites every month so 5G will get more and more widespread over the next few years.

We’re also continuing our 4G rollout to connect more rural people and places. We already have more 4G coverage than any other operator, and we're expanding coverage every month.

Is 5G safe?

The World Health Organisation has stated that there is no evidence to convince experts that using mobile devices and masts posesany health risks –this includes 5G.

EE adheres to guidance from ICNIRP –the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection –for all mobile technologies. This determines the exposure limits that operators have to abide by when transmitting radio spectrum. ICNIRP isaninherently cautious piece of regulation, and we adhere to it strictly to ensure customers need have no concerns about their safety.

In a recent formal response around 5G and health, the Government stated that: “While a small increase in overall exposure to radio waves is possible when 5G is added to the existing network, the overall exposure is expected to remain low and well within the ICNIRP guidelines.”

Why isn't 5G launching in my city/area?

For launch, our plan is to build 5G in the busiest spots of the busiest cities in the UK where our customers need it the most–and then continue a nationwide roll out. Please keep an eye on our roll out plan if you're interested in 5G.