EE’s 5G Standalone (SA) service was launched late last year and is now available to more people than ever.

With effect from today, Wednesday March 19th 2025, all new customers signing up to an EE 5G pay-monthly handset plan – as well as those upgrading – will be given access to the standalone 5G network, meaning you no longer have to sign up to one of the ‘premium’ plans.

Edit: Changed above text to clarify that this applies to handset plans and not SIM-only, besides the already existing SIM-only ultimate plans available last year.

5G Standalone allows users with compatible handsets (which is the vast majority of devices, as well as many 5G broadband products) to use 5G exclusively, rather than have to rely on an existing 4G connection that could often be located on a different site and offer a variable user experience if the 4G (LTE) site was under heavy load.

A dedicated 5G connection also allows for lower latency, which benefits video calling, screen sharing and gaming experiences.

More Information

• EE 5G Information

Press Release

EE UNVEILS 5G STANDALONE UPGRADE FOR MORE THAN 28 MILLION PEOPLE

• The rollout of EE’s 5G standalone network continues at pace with more towns and cities set to be upgraded this month – including Exeter, Caerphilly, Doncaster, Middlesbrough and Sunderland.
• By the end of March 2025, EE’s 5G standalone network will be live and available to over 28 million people across 50 major towns and cities in the UK – covering more than 40 percent of the population.
• Following the rollout, and the growing range of compatible smartphones, 5G standalone will be available from today to all new and upgrading customers taking any EE pay monthly handset plan.

5G standalone, the UK’s most reliable mobile technology, is being made available to customers in more towns and cities across the UK following major upgrades by mobile operator EE.

Having launched 5G standalone in September 2024, EE continues to expand the UK’s most advanced network, which will be available to over 28 million people across 50 major towns and cities by the end of March 2025. Coinciding with the rollout, EE is making 5G standalone available to all new and upgrading customers taking any EE handset plan from today.

EE only announces 5G standalone availability once a location has at least 95% outdoor coverage so customers upgrading to the new technology know they will receive a reliable and consistent experience. Some of the new places set to benefit from EE’s 5G standalone upgrades in the next few weeks include:

• Altrincham
• Blackburn
• Bridgend
• Caerphilly
• Corby
• Cwmbran
• Doncaster
• Exeter
• Huddersfield
• Hyde
• Middlesbrough
• Milton Keynes
• Port Talbot
• Rotherham
• Sale
• Sunderland
• Wakefield
• Walkden
• Wilmslow

Customers that take a 5G standalone mobile plan will receive an uplift to their network performance in these locations, including smoother and more reliable video calls, livestreaming and online gaming, even in congested areas and at peak times.

The availability of smartphones and connected devices capable of harnessing 5G standalone has grown considerably since EE first launched its service, with brands including Apple, Samsung, Google, Motorola, Nokia, TCL and Honor now offering compatible smartphones – many of which also have built-in AI applications.  One of the benefits of 5G standalone is that it can provide a smoother experience for customers using the newest AI tools on their devices, such as Galaxy AI and Gemini AI, both now and in the future.

In support of the ongoing coverage rollout and wider smartphone ecosystem, from today, EE is making 5G standalone available to all new and upgrading customers taking any EE handset plan, enabling more consumers to access this next-generation network experience.

“5G standalone is giving many customers a better and more reliable mobile experience, especially in busy locations. As we rapidly expand our network footprint to cover more than 40 percent of the UK population, we are widening its accessibility so more people can benefit – especially those looking to harness the power of cutting-edge features on the newest smartphones,” said Malcolm Cubitt, Director of Mobile at EE.

Smartphones and tablets using 5G standalone connect directly to a pure 5G network, rather than relying on 4G, so benefit from additional capacity to provide a better mobile experience in busy areas like high streets, train stations and major stadiums – including at Wembley Stadium, where EE recently became the first operator to launch its 5G standalone network.