EE enables 5GSA for more than half a million customers

EE has announced that they have enabled 5G Standalone (5GSA), or what they are confusingly calling 5G+ (to buck the industry trend), for more than half a million EE customers. 5GSA is enabled by default on all new and upgrading EE monthly handset plans, and is included for customers who bought the EE ‘All Rounder’ or ‘Full Works’ SIM only plans after 29th August 2024. EE has now also enabled this for customers who have taken out a pay-monthly handset between September and March 2025, which equates to around 0.5 million customers. Presumably, the reason EE are doing this is that by getting more customers connecting using 5G SA, it will help alleviate capacity issues on their 4G core network (which 5G non-standalone still utilises) and provide a better level of service, whilst also making the most benefit of their network investments.

The company has also announced 20 new towns and cities, as well as some festive attractions, which will have access to 5GSA as it expands the rollout of the network. This extra coverage is expected to reach around 1.6 million people, EE has said.

“This time of year is all about connecting with the people and things we care about most. With millions of people travelling to visit family, heading to the high street for their gifts, and enjoying the best festive events the UK has to offer, we’re expanding EE’s 5G+ network so the nation can benefit from its high capacity, ultra-reliable connectivity and stay connected to what matters to them this Christmas.”

Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer, BT Group

The 20 new towns and cities with EE 5GSA coverage are listed here:

Ballymena
Burton-on-Trent
Chelmsford
Dewsbury
Ellesmere Port
Gateshead
Greenock
Hamilton
Hartlepool
Hatfield
Hereford
Londonderry
Newark
Oldham
Rochdale
Solihull
Stafford
Stevenage
Tamworth
Warwick