EE customers are getting one of the most radical upgrades ever as the network finally switches on its 5G signal.
This new technology looks set to revolutionise the way we use our phones with consumers getting vastly improved speeds and a more reliable signal.
EE confirm last week that 5G is coming this month with Thursday, May 30 the date that customers should pop in the diaries.
Speaking at the launch event in London Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer division, said: “This is the start of the UK’s 5G journey and great news for our customers that want and need the best connections.
“We’ve started with 5G in some of the busiest parts of the UK, the widest range of 5G devices in the UK, and plans that give customers the best mobile connection and great benefits.
“We’re upgrading more than 100 sites to 5G every month from today to connect more places to what 5G can enable.”
So, if you are an EE customer here’s all you need to know about 5G.
WHEN CAN I GET IT?
EE has confirmed that it is switching on this signal on May 30 which should mean some customers will be able to access faster speeds from the end of this week.
HOW MUCH FASTER IS IT?
The exact speeds customers will get are yet to be confirmed but EE has said it will be much quicker than current 4G.
The network says it expects customers to experience an increase in speeds of around 100-150Mbps even in the busiest areas. Some customers will break the one gigabit-per-second milestone on their 5G smartphones. The fastest speed possible when EE launched 4G in 2012 was just 50Mbps.
WHERE CAN I GET IT?
The first places to 5G will be London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester all offering increased speeds, reliability and connectivity
EE says it will then roll out 5G rapidly with more than 100 new 5G sites per month being added, providing 5G in: Bristol, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham, Sheffield, Liverpool, Hull, Leeds, Newcastle and Glasgow
Ten more towns and cities announced as initial 5G locations for 2020 with more to follow: Aberdeen, Cambridge, Derby, Gloucester, Peterborough, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Southampton, Worcester and Wolverhampton
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST?
EE says its customers can pre-order a new 5G smartphone on its new 5G Smart Plans.
Plans start from 10GB (£54 per month) and extend up to 120GB (£74 per month).
EE is also rolling out the UK’s first 5G SIM only plans, offering Swappable benefits, inclusive Service Pack benefits, and a range of great 5G data allowances starting at 20GB per month (£32 per month) and rising to 100GB (£52 per month).
WILL MY CURRENT SMARTPHONE WORK WITH 5G?
The simple answer to that question is no.
To access the new 5G signal you’ll need a 5G-ready phone.
Samsung, Oppo and OnePlus have all announced new devices which will launch in the coming weeks.