EE UK Boosts 4G and 5G Mobile by Refarming More 3G Spectrum
Mobile operator EE (BT) has confirmed to ISPreview that they’ve “started the work” to repurpose more of their old 3G radio spectrum for use by modern 4G and 5G based mobile networks, which is said to already be delivering “performance improvements” (e.g. faster mobile broadband speeds) for customers in “thousands of postcodes” across the UK.
In case anybody has forgotten, EE switched-off their final 3G sites back in February 2024 (here). But it’s long been known that the radio spectrum which operators free up, as a result of this change, would go toward improving the performance and coverage of their more modern 4G and 5G networks – not to mention helping to lower their network costs and facilitating a big reduction in energy usage.
However, the precise approach that different operators planned to use (i.e. when switching the spectrum that 3G used and re-farming it to 4G or 5G services) has often remained unclear, which may also vary between different areas. But last year a spokesperson for EE told ISPreview that their own process would happen gradually over time, with an initial focus being given to areas of greatest need (e.g. congested sites or areas at risk of congestion).
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In fact, EE has previously re-farmed 15MHz of the 2100MHz band (n1), which was originally used for 3G. But, over the past few months, some of EE’s customers (example) have reported seeing an additional change on the n1 band, which increases the channel bandwidth from 15MHz to 20MHz. This was underlined last week, when a sizeable number of EE’s masts in South Wales suddenly adopted this change to improve 4G and 5G services.
The operator has since confirmed to ISPreview that Appleby (we assume they mean the one in Lincolnshire) was the first location to see this work take place, although they’ve also now done it in parts of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, London, Birmingham, Liverpool and parts of North Wales. As above, they’ve recently been adding South Wales to that list (this is due to complete next week). A total of 7,000 sites have been upgraded this year.
An EE spokesperson told ISPreview:
“Shutting down outdated technologies like 3G carries benefits for everyone because modern networks provide more reliable, sustainable and secure services. By closing down 3G, more mobile spectrum has been freed up and is now being used to improve EE’s 4G and 5G networks. This work is already delivering performance improvements for customers in thousands of postcodes across the UK.”
The operator has been conducting some early monitoring of the recent n1 change to 20MHz, which appears to suggest performance benefits of between 20-35% in some KPIs, although no specifics were included to elaborate. But such performance benefits typically include things like less congestion, fewer dropped calls and modestly faster broadband speeds.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and Linkedin.
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Meanwhile they are still installing smart meters which still use 2G & 3G, which will become obsolete in the next few years…….
“They” is not EE
It amazes me that they’re only just doing this now.
Three did it practically immediately when 3G was shut off, although there’s still some sites on EARFCN 99. Local people will need to correct me here, but one of the radio transmitters here still uses that EARFCN and one of the newer PoWs too.
I’ve even seen signs of Vodafone refarming spectrum to 2G too now!
I wondered what Vodafone are doing, are they actually refarming anything to 4G yet? 2G seems like a massive step backwards…
“It amazes me that they’re only just doing this now.” Likewise – EE 3G was off by January 2024 here, and refarming since has been cursory at best. Biggest thing they’ve done is turn up 700.
In comparison, Three have been refarming pretty much from the get – their 3G switch off is over bar the shouting here, but you can tell when they’ve been to a mast; if they’ve visited, 15MHz of band 1. If they haven’t, 10MHz of band 1.
As for Vodafone – ha. 2G all the way here, they haven’t refarmed one bit of their spectrum to 4G since their 3G switch off, which happened a month or so behind EE. No danger of 5G either, except for that random splodge on their coverage map (which was supported by the landowner,they certainly weren’t going to do it off their own back).
I think a little time spent using the Ofcom Mobile Services Availability app can be very informative about the response of the service providers. EE attracts a lot of criticism but its 5G Data network is more extensive than any of the other operators some have whom have barely got started.
For smart meters they use 02 for 2G & 3G ones.
As for likes of Vodafone and three they don’t seem to care about refarming the speeds on 4G are still the same and coverage has got worse since the 3g switch off most time I spend time E on Vodafone networks and as for three it’s either poor 4g or nothing at all because they don’t have 2G maybe that’s why they want to merge with Vodafone.
Who actually cares about 5G I mean they can’t even get 4G right
Eh? 5G is faster than 4G
It’s great if you can even get any coverage in Cornwall I’m on Giffgaff part of O2 hubby on EE neither of us have any signal most of the time we have to leave our village to get any signal at all and wi-fi calling is also a big joke router EE its just because we dont live in London no one cares about rural areas.
Spare a thought for remote meters for solar etc (not smets meters) which use 2 and 3g and can’t always be replaced easily/cheaply and have 20 year life
Brigg (North Lincs) has also been reframed and has N1 20mhz.