Vodafone has insisted it has now become “the first company in the UK to carry full 5G over a commercial network”.
The mobile operator claims its 5G site in Salford, combined with its fibre network, has allowed for such a feat to be achieved.
Vodafone went on: “Live mobile data traffic is now being streamed to and from the Internet exclusively over 5G from a site in Salford, Greater Manchester, connected to Vodafone’s nationwide converged fibre network.
“Until now, companies have tested the technology either within a single location, or using parts of the 4G network to complete the 5G service.”
5G is the next generation of mobile networking set to replace 4G.
The technology promises to offer speeds of roughly 1Gbps, that would be over 600 times faster than homes in the UK receive on average.
In order for 5G to run on a smartphone, suitable antenna modules need to be installed.
A number of smartphone manufacturers are preparing to feature such equipment in their 2019 flagships.
In fact, OnePlus recently announced its plan to be one of the first commercial manufacturers to deliver 5G phones to the masses.
Commenting on the matter OnePlus co-founder, Carl Pei, said: “As OnePlus is at the forefront of technology and innovation, we hope to continue breaking barriers and be the first to release a phone which supports 5G.”
In its announcement today, Vodafone echoed enthusiasm for 5G, declaring it would allow users “to play games on the go in 4K resolution with little or no time lag”.
The network went on: “When 5G-compatible handsets and devices become available, people will be able to play games on the go in 4K resolution with little or no time lag.
“They will also be able to immerse themselves in augmented reality where virtual objects appear in real-life surroundings and enjoy extremely fast Internet access.”
Nick Jeffery, the UK Chief Executive for Vodafone, added: “We are leading the roll out of 5G across the UK, starting with Greater Manchester.
“A further six cities – Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool and London – will shortly receive full 5G too.
“Next year, we will bring 5G to the Scottish Highlands, Cornwall and the Lake District, among other locations.”
At the start of the month EE activated its first 5G trial that was part of its initiative of high capacity testing.
Fotis Karonis, the 5G Technology Lead at BT Group, marked the occasion as the “latest milestone” in EE’s 5G delivery.
He explained: “This is the latest milestone in our 5G rollout – a live test of our 5G network, in a hugely busy ‘hotspot’, where we know there’s going to be demand from customers for increased mobile capacity.
“With constant upgrades to 4G, and laying the foundations for 5G, we’re working to always be able to deliver what our customers need – both consumers and the vertical industries that will make the greatest use of 5G.”