EE said it is transforming the UK mobile experience with two major 5G upgrades—including a world-first launch of Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) and the rapid expansion of 5G Standalone (5GSA) coverage.

EE’s customers are set to enjoy faster speeds, better reliability, and more efficient connectivity across smartphones, tablets, and laptops from leading brands like Apple, Samsung, Google, Honor, Lenovo, and Microsoft.

EE Launches World’s First ARC Technology

ARC is a breakthrough innovation that allows nearby mobile sites to pair up and share capacity. This delivers stronger and faster 5G performance in busy areas such as city centres, train stations, and high streets — without needing additional masts.

“By increasing capacity, our customers will get faster speeds and an even more reliable experience instantly. It is a real game-changer and yet another example of how the nation gets a better network experience on EE,” said Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group.

Already live in Manchester and Edinburgh, ARC is boosting network capacity and delivering up to 20 percent faster download speeds for EE customers. Over the next year, EE will deploy ARC across major UK cities including: London, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Sunderland are major cities across the United Kingdom.

Customers using the latest 5G SA-enabled devices like the iPhone 17, Samsung Galaxy S25, and Google Pixel phones will see the most significant benefits.

EE Expands 5G Standalone Coverage Nationwide

EE’s 5G Standalone network—the most advanced form of 5G with end-to-end 5G connectivity—offers:

• Faster downloads and uploads
• Improved performance in crowded areas
• More energy-efficient connectivity

EE plans to extend 5GSA to 41 million people by spring 2026, with 17 more towns and cities gaining access by December 2025, including Brighton and Hove, Oxford, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, and Telford.

Currently, EE’s 5GSA already reaches 34 million people across the UK, covering over 100 towns and cities from Aberdeen to York.

A Better Network Experience for Millions

With global device makers increasingly supporting 5G SA access, EE is positioning itself as the go-to network for next-gen mobile connectivity in the UK. EE’s twin move—pioneering ARC and pushing rapid 5GSA rollout—puts it ahead of UK rivals for now, but not uncontested. Vodafone and Three’s planned merger could reshape spectrum strength, while Orange, Deutsche Telekom, and SK Telecom are setting similar benchmarks abroad. According to GSMA Intelligence, 5G SA will dominate Europe before 2030, making EE’s early lead more about brand positioning than technology alone. The real test will be sustaining momentum as competitors scale and consumers begin expecting 5G SA as standard.