EE turns on 5G network in 12 new UK towns and cities

EE has switched on 5G coverage in 12 new towns and cities in the UK, including Aberdeen, Blackpool and Oxford.

The mobile operator said its high-speed network is now available in 112 locations around the UK.

5G is the newest generation of mobile communication technology, designed to offer data speeds several times that of 4G and also allow for larger amounts of data to be transferred at once, which could one day help power technologies such as fully autonomous cars.

The latest rollout has introduced EE 5G to Aberdeen, Aldershot, Barrhead, Blackpool, Castleford, Crawley, Mirfield, Oxford, Porthcawl, Shipley, Stafford and Warwick.

EE began the rollout of its network in May 2019, regularly adding new towns and cities since, and says it now has 5G coverage available to people in more places than any other UK provider.

“Delivering the best mobile experience for our customers has never been more important,” said Marc Allera, chief executive of BT’s consumer business, which owns EE.

“Our 5G rollout continues apace, with our engineers building and upgrading new sites every day to bring the latest mobile technology to even more people in the places they need it.

“We have 5G coverage in more places than anyone in the UK, and we remain focused on connecting many more areas this year and beyond.”

According to data from EE, the top three uses of its 5G network currently are for video streaming and social networking, with YouTube, Netflix, Facebook and Instagram the most used services.

EE’s announcement comes as Apple is expected to introduce 5G compatibility to its iPhone range for the first time.

On Tuesday, the technology giant is expected to unveil the iPhone 12 during a virtual event, with as many as four different versions of the phone reportedly set to be introduced – all of which could support 5G.