Mobile operator EE has launched the UK's first 5G network in six cities, ushering in a new era of connectivity not just for our smartphones, but for a multitude of smart devices as well. The 5G EE network has been activated in London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester, but you don't just need to live in one of these places to benefit from 5G. You'll also need a 5G-capable phone and a 5G mobile phone contract to access the fifth generation of network technology. At launch, EE is offering four 5G phones: the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, LG V50 ThinQ 5G, OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, and Oppo Reno 5G in the range. There's a premium to pay, too, with EE 5E contracts more expensive than their 4G plans.
Faster and more reliable internet
5G is supposed to provide a much faster and more reliable internet connection for your smartphone, allowing you to download apps, games, movies and music in an instant. The speed should be much higher than what you get with 4G, although it depends on many factors, including the distance from a 5G mast. At the time of writing, the number of launch cities covered by the EA 5G network was still unclear, but today we'll have a phone to test it out on. For those disappointed with the limited rollout across the country, there's good news as EE promises to expand its 5G network to 10 more locations by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Vodafone will join the future 5G on July 3 at seven sites, with a total of 19 sites connected by the end of the year.