How EE is Boosting 5G+ Connectivity for 50 Million UK Users

Millions of EE customers are set to benefit from a major uplift in mobile connectivity as the operator accelerates upgrades to its UK network, extending 5G+ coverage and introducing new performance-enhancing technologies.

The development builds on EE’s wider investment strategy, with its parent company BT Group committing £40bn (US$54bn) to national infrastructure.

It underlines EE's continued push and long-term ambitions to extend high-quality 5G+ coverage to 99% of the UK population by March 2030.

The latest phase focuses on enhancing speed and capacity, while also improving reliability at a time when demand for data-heavy services continues to rise.

5G+ rollout exceeds targets

Since the start of 2026, EE has expanded its 5G+ footprint to reach more than 50 million people across over 610 towns and cities. The company has surpassed its earlier target of 41 million by spring.

5G+ is currently the mobile operator’s most advanced offering, designed to deliver faster download and upload speeds, in addition to improved reliability and better performance.

The boost for UK users will have benefits for services such as video calling and mobile gaming, particularly in high-density and peak-time scenarios.

“This milestone shows the pace at which we’re building the UK’s most advanced mobile network,” said Greg McCall, Chief Security and Networks Officer at BT Group.

“By expanding EE’s 5G+ coverage to millions more people and being the first in the world to launch new network technologies, we’re giving our customers more reliable and resilient connectivity in the places where it matters most.”

Recent locations added to the 5G+ network include Aberystwyth, Antrim, Bangor, Barnsley, Cheltenham, Chichester, Cirencester, Dorchester, Erskine, Melton Mowbray, Merthyr Tydfil, Newbury, Preston, Salford and St Austell.

The expansion is already driving usage, with EE reporting a 54% increase in monthly customer data consumption on 5G+ over the past six months.

Spectrum strategy drives performance

Alongside geographic expansion, EE is refining how it uses its spectrum assets to improve everyday network performance.

The operator has reallocated its 2.1GHz spectrum across more than 4,000 mobile sites, increasing capacity and strengthening indoor coverage. The move is particularly targeted at urban areas where network demand is highest.

A further 5,000 sites are set to be upgraded in the coming months, continuing the densification of EE’s 5G+ network.

In parallel, EE has introduced five carrier aggregation across its 5G+ sites, becoming the first UK operator to do so.

The technology enables compatible devices to combine five spectrum bands at once, resulting in an average 10% increase in download speeds and smoother performance for streaming and other bandwidth-intensive applications.

Advanced RAN Coordination rollout continues

EE is also progressing with the deployment of Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC), a technology designed to improve network efficiency without requiring additional physical infrastructure.

ARC allows nearby mobile sites to share capacity dynamically in real time, delivering an immediate performance uplift of around 20% in congested areas.

This technology is particularly suited to environments like transport hubs, high streets and city centres where usage can quickly fluctuate.

Having initially launched ARC in Manchester and Edinburgh, EE has now activated the technology on its 5G+ network in London.

Further rollouts are planned by the end of May 2026 in Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield.

EE says customers using the latest compatible devices on both iOS and Android will experience the most noticeable improvements, particularly in busy urban locations where network strain is typically highest.