EE gives half a million customers a free mobile | Tech News

Mobile operator EE says it has given some of its customers a free 5G community improve, opening up wider smartphone entry to newer devoted 5G signal masts throughout the nation.

The mobile supplier claims entry to 5G+, the firm’s rebranded identify for ‘5G standalone’ technology, improves mobile knowledge speeds and reliability for suitable smartphones throughout the UK. 5G standalone networks are run on a devoted 5G infrastructure, moderately than being constructed on high of the infrastructure of older 4G networks to be able to present 5G signal.

EE, which is owned by BT, stated it had lately upgraded more than 500,000 on pay month-to-month handset plans taken out between September 2024 and March 2025 to offer them entry to 5G+ “at no extra cost”.

“5G+ is currently available on all EE pay monthly handset plans, as well as its Full Works and All Rounder SIM-only plans,” EE stated in a press release. “With more than 15 percent of all EE pay monthly customers now accessing 5G+, millions of people in the UK are now benefiting every day from the enhanced network performance it offers.”

The operator stated it goals to serve 99 % of the UK population with 5G+ protection by 2030. Its newest protection push has seen 20 new cities and cities gain entry to the technology: Ballymena, Burton-on-Trent, Chelmsford, Dewsbury, Ellesmere Port, Gateshead, Greenock, Hamilton, Hartlepool, Hatfield, Hereford, Londonderry, Newark, Oldham, Rochdale, Solihull, Stafford, Stevenage, Tamworth and Warwick.

EE stated this newest rollout might benefit 1.6 million people in phrases of these technically served by the new areas – although not all these people might be EE customers. The supplier stated 5G+ is now out there, by the identical measure, to more than 44 million people throughout the nation.

“This time of year is all about connecting with the people and things we care about most,” stated Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group.

“With millions of people travelling to visit family, heading to the high street for their gifts, and enjoying the best festive events the UK has to offer, we’re expanding EE’s 5G+ network so the nation can benefit from its high capacity, ultra-reliable connectivity and stay connected to what matters to them this Christmas.”

Even if you’re on a plan that features entry to 5G+, you need a suitable smartphone to be able to entry the masts and their signal. EE has a full record of suitable units, which incorporates telephones made by Apple, Google, HMD, Honor, Motorola, Nothing, Oppo, Samsung, Sony and TCL.

Select tablets are additionally suitable, together with the most recent mobile iPads.