When did 5G start in the UK?

The first commercial networks went live in major UK cities in 2019. Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, estimated that in September 2023, 85 to 93% of UK premises could get 5G coverage outdoors from at least one operator. 5G networks are initially being built on top of legacy 4G equipment. This is called ‘non-standalone’ 5G.

Who rolled out 5G in the UK?

5G is primarily being rolled-out by private companies called mobile network operators. These are EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. The first commercial networks went live in major UK cities in 2019. Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, estimated that in September 2023, 85 to 93% of UK premises could get 5G coverage outdoors from at least one operator.

Is 5G still available in the UK?

As we note above, Ofcom reports that (basic, non-standalone) 5G is now available with high confidence from at least one operator outside approximately 77% [footnote 5] of UK premises. Coverage from all 4 operators is much lower at approximately 20%.

Which frequency bands will play a role in 5G deployment in the UK?

The first argues that 700 MHz and 26 GHz frequency bands will play an important role in 5G deployment in the UK, which enables base stations to meet short- and long-term demand. In order to accelerate the 5G development, the launch of the two spectrum resources should be actively promoted.

What is the role of 5G in the UK?

The simulation results show that 700 MHz and 26 GHz will play an important role in 5G deployment in the UK, which allow base stations to meet short-term and long-term data traffic demands respectively.

Is a UK 5G deal good for competition?

They said that the deal would therefore be good for competition, despite reducing the number of MNOs. They also promised to invest £11 billion over 10 years “to create one of Europe's most advanced standalone 5G networks”. The government published a new UK Wireless Infrastructure Strategy in April 2023.