EE Expand 5G Standalone Mobile Broadband Cover to 20 New UK Locations

Broadband ISP and mobile operator EE (BT) has this morning announced that they’ve just expanded the coverage of their latest 5G Standalone (5GSA / 5G+) mobile network to reach 20 new UK locations – reflecting a total additional population reach of more than 1.6 million people.

Just to recap. Earlier deployments of 5G were largely Non-Standalone (NSA), which meant they were partly reliant upon slower 4G infrastructure. But SA networks are pure end-to-end 5G that can deliver ultra-low latency times, greater energy efficiency, better mobile broadband speeds (particularly uploads), network slicing, improved support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, increased reliability and security etc.

EE officially began launching a range of new 5G SA supporting mobile plans across 15 major UK cities in September 2024 (here) and they’ve since been rapidly expanding upon that (example). The operator has previously informed ISPreview that they only announce 5GSA availability once a location has “at least 95% outdoor coverage“, which helps to ensure a good level of connectivity.

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

EE’s 20 New 5G+ Locations

1. Ballymena
2. Burton-on-Trent
3. Chelmsford
4. Dewsbury
5. Ellesmere Port
6. Gateshead
7. Greenock
8. Hamilton
9. Hartlepool
10. Hatfield
11. Hereford
12. Londonderry
13. Newark
14. Oldham
15. Rochdale
16. Solihull
17. Stafford
18. Stevenage
19. Tamworth
20. Warwick

Device compatibility is of course still an issue for 5GSA adoption, although such things will resolve themselves with time as consumers gradually upgrade – many modern Smartphones do now support it on EE’s network. But overall, today’s announcement represents more news for consumers who will benefit from the increased performance that 5G+ brings, particularly in urban areas.

The new 5G+ network is now said to be available on all EE Pay Monthly handset plans, as well as its Full Works and All Rounder SIM-only plans. In addition, the operator confirmed that more than 15% of all their Pay Monthly customers are now accessing 5G+. Furthermore, more than 500,000 EE customers who took out a pay monthly handset plan between September 2024 and March 2025 have been given access to EE’s 5G+ network.