EE has unveiled new network innovations to boost connectivity to millions of its customers in the UK.

Its 5G+ connectivity is being expanded to cover more than 50 million people across the country as part of these changes, with EE extending its use of world-first technologies to boost network performance and reliability, it said.

This comes as part of a £40 billion investment into the UK’s network infrastructure, where EE continues to innovate and improve network performance. Since the start of the year, the company has extended 5G+ connectivity past its original target of 41 million people by Spring 2026, covering more than 610 towns and cities.

“This milestone shows the pace at which we’re building the UK’s most advanced mobile network,” said Greg McCall, chief security and networks officer at BT Group. “By expanding EE’s 5G+ coverage to millions more people and being the first in the world to launch new network technologies, we’re giving our customers more reliable and resilient connectivity in the places where it matters most.”

Powering ahead, EE’s ambition is to deliver the highest 5G+ connectivity in the UK to 99% of the population by the end of March 2030. The network expansion has led to a 54% increase in monthly customer usage on 5G+ over the last six months, EE said, with more customers recognising the benefits of the technology.

To prioritise customer experience on 5G+, EE has reallocated 2.1GHz (2100MHz) across more than 4,000 mobile sites to deliver greater network capacity, stronger indoor coverage and improved upload speeds for 5G+ customers. EE said it plans to upgrade 5,000 more mobile sites in this way over the next few months.

Additionally, EE has announced further progress on its rollout of ARC (Advanced RAN Coordination), a technology that enables mobile sites close to each other to dynamically share capacity in real time. This is expected to boost network performance by 20% without the need for additional masts, EE explained.

The news today comes as Boldyn Networks announced that, with EE and Transport for London (TfL), it has deployed Emergency Services Network infrastructure across the London Underground.

The collaboration is designed to enable more resilient and reliable communications services in the future for thousands of first responders, including police, fire and ambulance services. Boldyn Networks said the British Transport Police are expected to be among the largest users of the network.

Speaking on the announcement, Paul Osborne, chief commercial officer UK at Boldyn Networks, said: “Access to connectivity for the emergency services can’t be compromised, especially in an environment as complex as the London Underground. Critically, ESN will ensure first responders can stay connected when it matters most, with access to the data and tools they need to respond quickly, safely and successfully.

“We’re proud to continue our work with TfL and EE to help safeguard the millions of daily passengers across the London Underground network.”

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