Big upgrades coming for EE’s network
Key Points
- EE has surpassed its spring 2026 target, extending its 5G+ network to over 50 million people across more than 610 UK towns and cities as part of BT Group’s £40 billion infrastructure investment.
- Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology is now live in London, Manchester and Edinburgh, with Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle and Sheffield set to follow by the end of May 2026, while recent additions include towns such as Aberystwyth, Barnsley, Cheltenham, Preston and St Austell.
- The 5G+ rollout has driven a 54% rise in monthly customer usage over the past six months, with EE targeting 99% UK population coverage by the end of March 2030.
- EE has reallocated 2.1GHz spectrum across more than 4,000 sites for better capacity and indoor coverage, with plans to upgrade another 5,000 sites in the coming months, and became the first UK network to launch five-carrier aggregation, delivering around 10% faster average download speeds.
- ARC technology enables nearby mobile sites to dynamically share capacity in real time, boosting network performance by up to 20% in busy areas like city centres and train stations without needing additional masts.
EE has extended its 5G+ network to more than 50 million people across over 610 UK towns and cities, blowing past its original spring 2026 target of 41 million as part of BT Group’s £40 billion infrastructure investment.
The operator, led by chief security and networks officer Greg McCall at BT Group, also confirmed that Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology is now live on its 5G+ network in London, joining Manchester and Edinburgh, with Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Sheffield set to follow by the end of May 2026.
The 5G+ expansion has driven a 54% rise in monthly customer usage on the network over the past six months, with EE targeting 99% UK population coverage for 5G+ by the end of March 2030.
Recent towns added to the 5G+ map include Aberystwyth, Antrim, Bangor, Barnsley, Cheltenham, Chichester, Cirencester, Dorchester, Erskine, Melton Mowbray, Merthyr Tydfil, Newbury, Preston, Salford and St Austell.
Spectrum reallocation and five carrier aggregation
EE has reallocated its 2.1GHz spectrum across more than 4,000 mobile sites to deliver greater capacity, stronger indoor coverage and improved upload speeds for 5G+ customers in built-up areas where demand sits highest.
The operator plans to upgrade a further 5,000 mobile sites in the same way over the next few months, pushing the total well past 9,000 sites once the work completes.
Last month, EE became the UK’s first network to launch five carrier aggregation on its 5G+ enabled mobile sites.
The upgrade lets compatible smartphones and devices combine the power of five spectrum bands at once, producing 10% faster download speeds on average and noticeably better performance when streaming video.
ARC technology rollout
ARC allows mobile sites near to each other to dynamically share capacity in real time, boosting network performance by 20% without the need for additional masts.
EE became the first network in the world to deploy the technology in a distributed RAN, and customers in train stations, high streets and city centres feel the biggest gains.
| Upgrade | Scope | Customer benefit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5G+ coverage | 50 million+ people, 610+ towns and cities | Faster, more reliable mobile internet | Original target was 41 million by spring 2026; 99% population target set for March 2030 |
| 2.1GHz reallocation | 4,000+ sites done, 5,000+ to come | Greater capacity, stronger indoor coverage, faster uploads | Focused on built-up areas with highest demand |
| Five carrier aggregation | 5G+ enabled mobile sites nationally | 10% faster downloads on average | UK first; requires compatible 5G+ device |
| ARC rollout | Live in Manchester, Edinburgh, London | 20% network performance boost in busy locations | Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, Sheffield by end of May 2026 |
