EE was the very first network to switch on its superfast 5G back in May. It was quickly followed by Vodafone, which differentiated itself by offering customers free 5G speeds abroad as well as at home in the UK.
Three has launched its own 5G network, although this is limited to internet in the home right now. Unlike traditional fibre broadband, Three’s 5G hub can be unplugged and moved around the home – or taken to a friend’s house if they need a boost.
5G is clearly the future and offers average speeds of over 100Mbps.
And things can get even quicker with a recent test, performed by Express.co.uk, showing speeds of over 300Mbps can easily be achieved – that’s fast enough to download a full HD movie in just a few minutes.
With these three networks now offering 5G, consumers already have plenty of choice, but some more competition is coming.
BT just announced that it’s joining the 5G revolution with its customers now able to access these blistering new speeds. This update will initially be available to BT Plus customers who can now get access to four new options which include 12GB, 30GB, 60GB or 200GB 5G handset plans, starting from just £45 per month.
They will also be able to select a 5G smartphone with the Samsung Galaxy Note 10+ 5G, Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, OPPO Reno 5G, Huawei Mate 20 X all available at launch.
So, that’s good news for those who want BT’s services but things could be about to get even more complicated with O2 set to announce its 5G launch this month. The UK network revealed back in July that it would switch on this superfast signal in October and that means news arriving within days or weeks.
At launch, O2 has confirmed that its 5G service will go live in areas including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Slough.
This will then be followed by more areas throughout 2019 and into next year.
“5G is going to be a game-changer for our country. Whether it’s for people or businesses, the power of this next-generation network is going to unlock a world of possibilities for our economy and society,” said Mark Evans, CEO, Telefónica UK.
“We’re also giving our customers maximum flexibility with our industry-leading custom plans, letting people adopt 5G at a time that’s right for them.”
If you fancy upgrading to 5G right now, there’s already plenty of choice but with two more networks now switching on this upgrade, the competition looks set to be hotting up.