Home » UK ISP News Archive » Article Tag: 5G (1771 Posts)

Articles for Category Tag - 5G

New Map of UK Cellular Coverage Goes Live to Help Examine Mobile Masts UPDATE2

26th January, 2026 (37 Comments)

A group of friends in the UK cellular (mobile networks) community have launched a new interactive map – UKCellNet RF Map – that allows hobbyists and professionals to access public cellular data (e.g. location and data on mobile phone mast sites etc.) for free – sourced from places like SiteFinder, Ofcom, planning applications and council FOI / EIR requests etc.

Starlink Prep Second Generation Direct-to-Cell 5G Mobile Satellites for 2027

22nd January, 2026 (9 Comments)

SpaceX has revealed that they’ll aim to launch the first batch of their “greatly enhanced” second generation (GEN2) Direct to Cell (DtC) capable broadband satellites in 2027 (probably Q4). The current service offers basic global coverage of a 4G mobile roaming service to unmodified Smartphones on the ground, typically alongside supporting mobile operators (e.g. O2 in the UK).

DCF Examine Other Countries to Reveal Learnings for UK 2G Mobile Switch-off

22nd January, 2026 (6 Comments)

A new report from Plum Consulting and the Digital Connectivity Forum (DCF), an industry think-tank, has today been published that attempts to identify what UK mobile operators can learn from the switch-off of legacy 2G networks in other countries. Needless to say, there are a few recommendations.

Ofcom Sets Out Current Progress and Future Plans to UK Prime Minister

21st January, 2026 (5 Comments)

The UK telecoms, media and internet content regulator, Ofcom, has this week written to the Prime Minister (Keir Starmer), Chancellor of the Exchequer (Rachel Reeves) and Secretary of State for Business and Trade (Peter Kyle), among others, to update them on how its work is “contributing to innovation, investment and growth in the UK“.

Mobile Operators Push for UK Planning Reform Again to Improve 5G and AI

21st January, 2026 (12 Comments)

Industry trade body Mobile UK, which represents EE, O2 and VodafoneThree (Vodafone and Three UK), has warned that the UK’s ambition to become an “AI superpower” will struggle without “high quality 5G Standalone (5GSA) networks acting as the ‘nervous system’“. But it warns that we “lag behind other leading nations” in this area and must reform the planning system.

Upload speed on mobile device uk by 123rf

Ookla Examine Mobile Broadband Upload Speeds and Capacity in the UK

20th January, 2026 (1 Comment)

Global network benchmarking firm Ookla, which collects data from consumers via their Speedtest.net service (inc. apps), has published a new report that takes a broad look into the impact of mobile (4G, 5G etc.) upload speeds in the age of AI and also reveals how much importance UK operators place upon it (EE, O2, Vodafone and Three UK).

telecommunication tower a falling signal on the city 123rf

BDUK Publish Several Studies of UK Mobile Coverage and Performance

15th January, 2026 (1 Comment)

The Government’s Building Digital UK (BDUK) agency, which oversees their gigabit-capable broadband and mobile network expansion programmes, has just published three new studies that examine the wellbeing and social benefits of the 4G Shared Rural Network (SRN) project, as well as the benefits and challenges of 4G mobile in rural Scotland, and finally some additionality research for mobile suppliers.

EE UK to Deliver Mobile Connectivity for easyJet’s Network in 35 Countries

15th January, 2026 (3 Comments)

Broadband and telecoms giant BT has announced that their EE mobile network has secured a major new contract with the UK’s largest airline, easyJet, to deliver thousands of mobile connections to keep its flight crew, aircraft and airports linked up across Europe – in 35 countries and over 150 airports (from Gatwick to Gran Canaria).

Virgin-Media-O2-5G-SA-Mobile-Mast-Surrounded-by-Trees-2023

O2 UK Expand 5G Standalone Mobile Broadband Network to Gloucester

15th January, 2026 (6 Comments)

Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has this morning announced that they’ve switched-on their next-generation 5G Standalone (5GSA) mobile broadband network for the city of Gloucester in Gloucestershire (England). The operator’s 5GSA network is now live across a total of more than 500 locations (70% of the UK’s population, or c.49 million people).

United Infrastructire engineer next to UK mast site PR130125

United Infrastructure Win Contract to Maintain Cornerstone’s UK Mobile Masts

13th January, 2026 (0 Comments)

Mobile infrastructure company Cornerstone (CTIL), which was originally established as part of a UK network sharing agreement between O2 (Virgin Media) and Vodafone (Vantage Towers), has awarded construction company United Infrastructure the contract to maintain their national network of 16,000 telecoms (mast) sites.

Mobile Operator Spusu UK Extend Free EU Roaming to Ukraine and Moldova

13th January, 2026 (5 Comments)

The SIM-Only mobile operator Spusu, which holds a virtual operator (MVNO) agreement to harness EE’s 4G and 5G network, has today confirmed that they’ve rolled out their free EU roaming to Ukraine and Moldova from 1st January 2026. Customers in the UK who travel to those countries can now use their plans (calls, text and data) as they would at home — with no extra charges.

Broadband downloading and uploading speed uk by 123RF ID51876143

Ookla Name Three UK Fastest and O2 Slowest for 5G Mobile Broadband in H2 2025

13th January, 2026 (4 Comments)

Network testing giant Ookla, which collects data from consumers via their popular broadband Speedtest.net service, have released their latest Q3-Q4 2025 (H2) study into the speed of 5G based mobile broadband networks across the United Kingdom. The results reveal that Three UK continues to be the fastest provider, while O2 (Virgin Media) was the slowest.

Reminder – EE UK Aim to Begin Switching Off 2G Network from May 2029

12th January, 2026 (8 Comments)

We’re playing catch-up today as, toward the latter part of 2025, EE (BT) updated their website (here) to confirm that they intend to “begin closing the 2G network from May 2029“. But as ISPreview reported a year ago (here), the broadband and mobile operator has already begun encouraging some 2G users to upgrade ahead of the closure.

New UK Mobile Operator Rewild Mobile Launches with a Focus on Nature

12th January, 2026 (33 Comments)

At present it often seems like a new eSIM (Embedded SIM) based mobile operator is launching almost every other week and today it’s the turn of Rewild Mobile, which says they’re “operating on the Three UK & Vodafone network” and intend to put any profits they make back into “rewilding nature“.

iD Mobile UK Commits to Maintaining Fixed Price SIM-only Plans

10th January, 2026 (0 Comments)

Low-cost mobile operator iD Mobile (Currys), which harnesses Three UK’s (VodafoneThree) national 4G and 5G network via a virtual operator (mvno) partnership, has moved to shun the growing sea of recent mid-contract price hikes from rival broadband and mobile providers by confirming their “commitment to Fixed Price SIM-only plans with no annual price rises” for another year.

Ofcom Proceed with Proposal to Share Upper 6GHz Band for UK Mobile and WiFi

9th January, 2026 (3 Comments)

The telecoms regulator, Ofcom, has this morning confirmed that the United Kingdom will become the “first country in Europe” to adopt a proposal that allows low power indoor WiFi signals and outdoor mobile broadband (4G, 5G etc.) networks to “share” access to the Upper 6GHz radio spectrum band (6425 to 7125MHz).

O2 UK Expand 5G Standalone Mobile Broadband Network to Sheffield

8th January, 2026 (6 Comments)

Mobile operator O2 (Virgin Media) has this morning announced that they’ve switched-on their next-generation 5G Standalone (5GSA) mobile broadband network in Sheffield and surrounding areas in South Yorkshire (England). The move forms part of their UK-wide rollout, which is now live in a total of more than 500 locations (70% of the UK’s population or c.49 million people).