Why EE's 5GSA Rebrand to 5G+ is More Than Just a Name

Have you attended a live event, like a concert, sporting match or theatre performance, and encountered a lost phone signal, crowd chaos or other unexpected disruptions?

When you think of these iconic moments, the immediate thought isn’t your phone network but that is where EE is changing the game with its renamed 5G+ network.

The company's tagline, the UK’s best network, could be more meaningful than ever as the BT Group-owned network recently announced its five year goal to deliver its 5G Standalone network to 99% of the UK by the end of 2030.

To ensure it meets the 2030 target to improve demands from multiple devices, EE’s network was built to deliver up to 100x more capacity than 4G networks. 

Claire Gillies, CEO of BT's Consumer division says: "While others are busy making promises, we are focused on delivering the best network to connect the lives of millions of people across the UK every single day."

An August study conducted by RootMetrics analysed mobile network performance found that EE provides the best and most reliable mobile connectivity across the UK – meaning millions of people and businesses would benefit from a better mobile experience by switching to EE. The report found EE provides the most reliable mobile connectivity in more places than anyone else, naming it the UK’s best network for a record-breaking 12 years in a row.

“Everyone has their own unique connectivity needs and what this research shows is that whether you are streaming in Southampton, gaming in Glasgow or video calling your friends in Cardiff, the nation gets a better network experience on EE,” Claire says.

Working towards an innovative future

So what actions are EE taking to ensure it achieves its 2030 vision?

The company announced it had become the first European mobile network to deploy a new generation of Massive MIMO units (Ericsson AIR 3284, the world's first 5G triple-band FDD Massive MIMO radio) to power the network. "Two of these units are already live, with hundreds more to follow by the end of the decade," says Howard Watson, Chief Security and Networks Officer, BT Group.

"We have over 1,500 outdoor small cells now boosting coverage nationwide, 500 of which were added in just the last 12 months. This includes our very first small cell deployments in towns and cities such as Belfast, Bristol, Oxford, Middlesbrough, Preston and Bolton.

"We last month announced that we are the first operator in the world to launch Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) in our distributed mobile network. This enables mobile sites near to each other to remotely pair up and share capacity, dramatically boosting network performance.

"To make the benefits of this technology clearer for customers, we’ll use the term 5G+ rather than the technical industry shorthand 5GSA or 5G Standalone. It’s the same game-changing network, but in language that’s simple and relatable."

Benefits of 5G+

During the England Women’s UEFA Nation League match on 26 February, which saw an attendance of 46,550, Wembley Stadium became the UK’s first sports venue to have a bespoke and permanent 5G standalone network, thanks to Wembley being connected by EE.

It allowed all attendees, who were EE customers, to access the very best 5G network available. This is just the start of 5G Standalone technology.

A company representative previously stated: “The Lionesses have made history with their ground-breaking performances on the pitch and now we’ve made history off it with the launch of the first 5G standalone network at Wembley Stadium.

“Whether it’s the Emirates FA Cup Final or one of the hotly anticipated gigs this summer, our cutting-edge mobile connectivity will ensure fans can capture, share and experience history in new ways under the iconic Wembley arch in 2025”.

How can the UK Government support Mobile Operators?

Towards the end of 2025 the UK Government is expected to invest £1bn ($1.34bn) in partnership with MNOs to increase 4G coverage to 95% if the UK lands. 

Whilst the pledge is towards 4G, EE are relying on government support to transform their vision of nationwide 5G+ to life.

The Government further hopes to carry out a ‘Mobile Market Review’ this year, to ensure that mobile operators have the investment they need to bring in new services and build the infrastructure required. 

EE is hopeful the Government will launch the review and examine:

• Planning reforms and support and increase the rollout of new network equipment, to increase the availability of radio waves to enable mobile coverage. 
• Consider the removal of Annual Licence Fees which are being paid by operators to use the spectrum.
• Leveraging opportunities for the UK to grow the digitalisation of public services to support small and medium enterprises. 

Whilst EE has reached milestones, it notes that achieving 99% 5G+ coverage, will not resolve all challenges posed by mobile coverage and capacity. There is still ongoing work to be done such as target interventions like improving connectivity along railways. 

Through expanding their 5G coverage, EE hopes to roll out smarter tech and be a pioneer in network innovation across the UK.