EE Expands 5G Standalone to 17 Towns and Cities, plus reveals network first to optimise network
EE’s rollout of standalone 5G continues with 17 new towns and cities, with the network also announcing the first use of Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology that optimises capacity in congested locations.
It’s been around a year since EE first launched its standalone 5G service to consumers (requiring the connection of specific tariffs that included the add-on, and in some cases requiring a new SIM). Now the network has covered a large percentage of the UK population with the service.
Standalone 5G means exactly what the name suggests, in that you connect only to 5G bands on a single site instead of using a mix of 4G and 5G bands on what could be multiple sites.
This not only helps reduce latency, but other issues associated with needing to connect to more than one site – most notably an increase in energy consumption by the device.
ARC
I have to confess to not knowing much about Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC), but EE details it as being the ability for nearby cellular sites to pair up and share their capacity. This can mean that during very heavy loads on specific sites (perhaps those situated near event venues, railway stations and high streets) that may vary throughout the day, the capacity available on the backhaul side of the network can be used more effectively.
EE claims this could result in 20% faster download speeds and improved video streaming – as well as more reliable connections at the busiest times.
ARC is now live in Manchester and Edinburgh. During 2026, EE will expand the technology to cover London, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Sunderland.
The 17 new locations that gain standalone 5G access are: Basildon, Bolton, Brighton & Hove, Colchester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Maidstone, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, and Telford.
EE only claims a town or city to be covered once a specific percentage of that area is covered (around 90-95%) so in some cases people have reported access to standalone 5G even in places not listed by the network. This is intentional and follows years of operating that policy so as not to mislead or disappoint customers.
You can read more detail in the press release below, including some details of offers for customers running from September 2025.
Press Release
EE EXTENDS 5G STANDALONE TO 17 NEW PLACES AND REVEALS NETWORK WORLD FIRST
EE today announced new major network updates including a world first, that in conjunction with its compelling plans, benefit and services – are designed to reinforce its position as the UK’s No.1 for the latest smartphones.
BEST NETWORK FOR THE LATEST SMARTPHONES
Millions of people are set to benefit from faster, more reliable 5G connectivity thanks to two key upgrades, including the world-first launch of Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology and the rollout of 5G standalone to 17 additional towns and cities by the end of December 2025.
EE is the first mobile operator globally to deploy ARC¹ in its distributed RAN network, a breakthrough innovation that allows nearby mobile sites to pair remotely and share capacity. The result is faster, more consistent performance without additional infrastructure, especially in busy locations such as train stations, high streets and city centres. Customers benefit from:
- Up to 20% faster download speeds
- Smoother video streaming
- More reliable connections at peak times
ARC is already live in Manchester and Edinburgh. Throughout the next year, EE will roll out the technology to London, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield and Sunderland. Customers using the latest 5G standalone devices on iOS and Android* will see the biggest performance gains.
EE is also accelerating the rollout of its 5G standalone network, enabling more people to access the UK’s fastest, most reliable 5G.
By December 2025, customers in 17 additional towns and cities will be able to access it.
The 17 new locations are: Basildon, Bolton, Brighton & Hove, Colchester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Maidstone, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, and Telford.
By spring 2026, EE aims to make 5G standalone available to over 41 million people nationwide, ensuring customers can make the most of the next generation of premium smartphones.
THE BEST PLANS AND BENEFITS
Customers wanting to benefit from EE’s network innovations can do so with EE’s latest smartphone plans. This includes for the first time customers who order select smartphones from the 12th September on a 36-month EE Flex-pay agreement, being given the option to Early Upgrade 12 months before the end of their term.
With EE, depending on the plan chosen, customers also benefit from:
- Six months free Apple Music and Apple Arcade as well as three months free Apple TV+
- The ability to connect a smart watch to their existing plan for free
- A choice of additional lifetime plan extras including: Apple One (Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+), Google One AI Premium, Netflix, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and TNT Sports
- Inclusive EU Roaming, with calls, text and data allowances included at no extra cost. Those on a Full Works plan will receive EE’s Roam Further Pass on top, extending their allowance to places including Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand
What’s more, those who take EE Broadband can unlock the best price on EE’s pay monthly smartphone plans as well as mobile SIMs with EE One. It could mean a saving of up to £360 a year when customers take just two SIMs.
SERVICE BUILT FOR THE LATEST SMARTPHONES
EE also offers a suite of services designed specifically to help support smartphone users. This includes:
- Simple set up with EE eSIM. Customers selecting an eSIM compatible device will now have a SIM choice at point of purchase; selecting an eSIM will give customers a seamless out of box set-up in just a few easy steps as soon as they turn on the new device – removing the need to insert a physical SIM card. EE ESIM is also available on SIM-only plans
- In selected stores EE offers authorised repairs with original manufacturer parts, carried out by professionals from just 2 hours that come with the manufacturer seal of approval. So you get peace of mind knowing your warranty and personal data are safe, whatever network you’re on
- Extended Warranty for the smartphone for the duration a customer has their smartphone plan with EE
Malcolm Cubitt, Director of Mobile Product at EE, said: “As smartphones continue to evolve, so does EE. With world-first innovations like ARC and the expansion of 5G standalone, we’re unlocking smoother streaming, next-level gaming and better integration across devices. And because EE does more, our bespoke plans and services ensure customers get the very best from their smartphones, today and in the future.”
NOTES
¹ ARC (Advanced RAN Coordination) is a network innovation allowing nearby mobile sites to share capacity in real time, boosting performance and reliability without additional infrastructure.
*EE’s 5G standalone network supports the latest smartphones from Apple, Samsung, Google, Honor, Lenovo and Microsoft, alongside a growing ecosystem of tablets and laptops.