EE set for UK 5G trial
June 6, 2018
UK mobile operator EE will switch on the UK’s first live 5G trial network in East London in October 2018, connecting real EE customers and businesses to 5G for the first time.
The trial will see 5G switched on at 10 sites around East London in areas including City Road, Old Street, Hoxton Square, St Paul’s and Chiswell Street. Five small businesses and five homes will have the chance to get connected to the 5G launch to trial the new technology, using prototype 5G broadband devices. In the coming weeks, EE will be using social media channels to find the UK’s first ever 5G trialists.
The live trial will demonstrate the ability of 5G to provide the highest speed mobile data connections, even in the most densely populated urban environments. According to EE, 5G will create more reliable and responsive mobile Internet connections, enabling widespread adoption of technologies such as virtual reality and augmented reality in apps and services. EE aims to deliver live speeds in excess of one gigabit per second with this first trial.
EE aims to be the first UK operator to launch 5G, and will build the new mobile technology on top of its award winning 4G network, boasting the fastest speeds and the widest coverage.
“We want the UK to be a global leader in 5G as part of our ambition to create a world-leading digital economy that works for everyone,” commented Minister for Digital, Margot James. “Together with the Government’s own test beds and trials programme, industry initiatives like this will help deliver the benefits of this new revolutionary technology to businesses and consumers across the UK.”
“This live trial is a big step forward in making the benefits of 5G a reality for our customers, and in making sure that the UK is at the front of the pack for 5G technology,” added Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer business. “We’re focusing our resource and experience across EE and BT to ensure that we continue to lead the UK market with a mobile network that keeps giving our customers the best speeds and the best coverage. 5G is a fundamental part of our work to build a converged, smart network that keeps our customers connected to the things that matter most.”