The next generation of mobile signals finally arrived in the UK in 2019, with major providers launching 5G networks across major UK cities.
EE launched its 5G network in six UK cities in late May, with rival Vodafone following suit in early July. O2 is the latest provider to activate his 5G signal, switching on the next-generation network in six of his cities in October, including London and Edinburgh.
The network will offer significantly faster download speeds for mobile users on the go, but that’s not the only benefit 5G brings. According to CNet, the technology could be used to replace home broadband systems and could also be used for self-driving cars to communicate with each other.
apply 1 week
Escape from the echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news and analysis from multiple perspectives.
Subscribe and save
Sign up for this week’s free newsletter
From our morning news briefing to our weekly Good News newsletter, get the week’s best stories delivered straight to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to our weekly Good News newsletter, get the week’s best stories delivered straight to your inbox.
Given that the network is still in its infancy, 5G-connected cars seem to be at least a few years away. However, technology enthusiasts can try their hand at technology by picking up one of his select few flagship smartphones.
From download speeds to compatible devices, here’s everything you need to know about the network.
What is 5G?
Simply put, 5G promises to bring broadband-like download speeds to smartphone users. It will run alongside the 4G and 3G networks currently available across the UK.
According to PC Magazine, 5G will not only be significantly faster, it will also be able to process more data, connect more devices at the same time, and reduce latency (the time a command is given before information is transferred). The time it takes to connect is also lower than the old one.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
For more technology news and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s topics, try The Week magazine.The first 6 issues are available for £6
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
How fast is 5G compared to 4G?
In London, users can expect average download speeds of around 200Mbps, but The Verge reports that some areas of the city are seeing dramatically faster connections.
For example, certain areas of London experienced speeds of 500 or 600 Mbps, and download speeds of 980 Mbps in some locations, according to the tech site.
In London Bridge, one of the city’s “hot spots” (an area with a large number of mobile users on one network), the 5G network will deliver speeds of around 130Mbps, especially compared to the 530Kbps provided by the 4G signal. It turned out to be better. The Verge says.
Which study? Wired reports that the average download speed on London’s 4G network in 2017 was 20.5Mbps. London ranked 16th out of her 20 UK cities surveyed for data coverage.
The tech site said Stoke-on-Trent was the city with the best 4G connectivity in 2017, averaging 26.6Mbps, while Brighton was the worst with 17.6Mbps.
In any case, 5G offers significantly improved download speeds compared to previous versions.
When will it arrive in the UK?
It is already in place, but only in certain major UK cities.
So far, only EE and Vodafone have switched on their 5G networks, with O2 expected to join them later this month. Three also has its own 5G signal, but it currently takes the form of a home network and is only available in certain areas of London.
EE’s network is currently available in the cities of Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London and Manchester.
Vodafone, on the other hand, can be accessed from:
Birkenhead, Birmingham, Bolton, Bristol, Cardiff, Gatwick, Glasgow, Lancaster, Liverpool, London, Manchester, Newbury, Plymouth, Stoke-on-Trent, Wolverhampton.
More cities will be added to these lists later this year and into 2020.
Finally, O2 is connecting six cities to the new network: Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Slough.
According to Metro, the company plans to add 14 more cities to its roster by the end of the year, with the ultimate goal of connecting 50 cities to 5G by summer 2020.
Which phones do you support?
If you want to connect to one of the new 5G networks across the UK, you’ll need a handset that supports faster signals. Thankfully, there are a variety of cutting-edge smartphones to choose from.
The latest addition to the 5G lineup is the long-awaited Samsung Galaxy Fold. As well as being able to connect to next generation signals, this phone is also the only phone on sale in the UK with a foldable screen.
Other 5G-enabled models include the Galaxy S10 5G, OnePlus 7 Pro 5G, and the newly announced Huawei Mate 30 Pro 5G.
However, one important point is missing. It’s an iPhone. Apple’s choice not to offer 5G support in its new products is said to be due to a legal battle with chipmaker Qualcomm that ended in April, CNet reports.
