EE was the first UK network to switch on 5G, beaming mobile internet to your handset at much faster speeds and with lower latency.
With downloads easily exceeding 300Mbps, this is the future of getting online when away from a fixed-line broadband connection.
However, the initial rollout is taking place in small steps and that means, at launch, there were only a limited amount of areas getting those blistering speeds.
That’s clearly a worry for those wanting to invest but it seems to be improving with EE announcing more places are getting a 5G connection.
The network is now bringing this much-improved service to the UK’s busiest transport hubs and popular places, including London Waterloo, Liverpool Street Station, and Charing Cross.
Busy UK landmarks, including Birmingham’s Brindley Place, Manchester’s Albert Square, and London’s Piccadilly Circus are already connected to 5G.
London commuters can also enjoy 5G at Highbury and Islington station, which sees 29.5 million people a year pass through, New Cross Gate Overground station, and Shoreditch High Street Overground station.
Speaking about the upgrade, Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s consumer division, said: “Switching on 5G in more busy places will help to keep our customers connected to the things that matter to them the most. Our engineers are building new 5G sites every day, and increasing capacity on 4G sites – all part of our ambition to keep all of our customers connected 100% of the time.”
As well as covering the busiest hotspots, EE is also expanding coverage around the cities to reach busy towns and suburbs. In the West Midlands, EE is rolling out coverage around Solihull, Dudley, Sutton Coldfield, West Bromwich, and Lichfield.
Around Greater Manchester, 5G is being brought to areas around Salford, Oldham, Ashton-under-Lyne, Rochdale and Milnrow. Spreading out from London, EE is launching 5G in Kingston-upon-Thames, Grays, Romford, Chatham and Gillingham.
And EE has also this week built sites in three new cities – Bristol, Leicester and Coventry. The sites will be switched on next week.
HOW MUCH FASTER WILL IT ACTUALLY BE?
Depending on where you are in the country it’s possible to get an average 4G speed of around 20-30Mbps.
That’s as fast as most fixed-line broadband and would allow you to download an HD movie in around 20 minutes.
If you are very lucky, it is possible to get 4G speeds of around 400Mbps although this isn’t something many consumers will have ever experienced.
5G takes things to a new level with average speeds expected to exceed 100Mbps.
It’s also very likely that some users will experience speeds nearing 1Gbps with an HD movie downloading in under 40 seconds.
On a recent test, Express.co.uk managed to see speeds of over 300Mbps.