There's no doubt 5G is going to transform the way we use our phones, our laptops, and our smart home devices, and that's before we get into its applications in self-driving vehicles, smart city infrastructure, and medical uses. It's a truly revolutionary technology, and no one is doing more to get us to the 5G future faster than EE, which is why we're proud to give our 5G Champion award at the T3 Awards 2020.
5G can be found in more places in the UK on the EE network than on any of its competitors, with the super-fast tech now live in more than 80 cities and large towns in the UK. From Manchester to Motherwell, from Liverpool to Lichfield, you can get a 5G signal in a growing number of spots.
Not only that, but EE is specifically targeting places with high footfall for its first wave of 5G roll outs. Spots such as Victoria Square, the Mailbox and Brindley Place in Birmingham, and Piccadilly Circus, Clapham Common, and Hampton Court Palace gardens in London have been chosen to ensure as many people as possible can get connected while they're out and about.
4G download speeds currently average 30 megabits per second (Mb/s), and 5G on EE can already up that to around 100 Mb/s. Eventually, it could achieve speeds of up to 1000 Mb/s, or 1 gigabit per second (1Gb/s). 5G is about more than just blazing fast upload and download speeds, though: the technology also means massive increases in the capacity of networks, so you won't suddenly find yourself without signal at a busy shopping centre, music gig or football match.
EE is showing no signs of slowing down with its 5G roll-out either. The upgraded tech will work seamlessly with 4G as the expansion continues, so you'll be guaranteed a strong signal in more and more places in the UK.
The EE commitment to 5G extends to the contracts and the phones it offers, as well as the infrastructure. You can't get 5G speeds without a 5G phone, and best 5G phones, including the Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra 5G and the OnePlus 7 Pro 5G are among those currently offered by the network – all with sleek looks and plenty of power to add to the top-tier connection speeds.
EE also offers a couple of 5G routers you can get and set up at home, giving you and your devices mobile hotspot speeds that rival fibre broadband. Both phones and routers come with comprehensive 5G data plans and easy ways to monitor your data usage, so you can upgrade your network speeds as cheaply as possible.
Sign up to the T3 newsletter for smarter living straight to your inbox
Get all the latest news, reviews, deals and buying guides on gorgeous tech, home and active products from the T3 experts
We're hugely excited by the potential of 5G, and we're pleased to see EE is just as excited as we are. It has 5G in more places in the UK than anyone else, and continues to push out more infrastructure technology, more 5G plans, and more information to consumers.
• See all the T3 Awards 2020 winners!
• Check out more of the best smartphones
• Or see the best cheap phones
For 25 years T3 has been the place to go when you need a gadget. From the incredibly useful, to the flat out beautiful T3 has covered it all. We're here to make your life better by bringing you the latest news, reviewing the products you want to buy and hunting for the best deals. You can follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. We also have a monthly magazine which you can buy in newsagents or subscribe to online – print and digital versions available.
-
Forget Black Friday, F1 24 is completely free for a limited time
This top racing game has a free weekend
By Max Freeman-Mills Published
-
Devialet Astra is surely the most beautiful audio amp ever made
French brand Devialet is renowned for its stunning-looking audio products, but this is on another level
By Rik Henderson Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: Blueair Classic 480i has the power to purify
This is a serious looking air purifier that does a seriously good job
By Duncan Bell Last updated
-
T3 Awards 2020: The Neff N 70 is our Bake Off champion
Oven of the year, thanks to self-cleaning, a slide & hide door and Circotherm tech for consistent cooking
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: Our Gadget of the Year is the OnePlus 8 Pro!
The OnePlus 8 Pro is not just the pinnacle of phones in 2020, it's also a template for tech excellence, which is why it wins our Gadget of the Year award!
By T3.com Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: Amazon's huge year for its own products makes it our tech brand of the year
Alexa going hi-fi, Prime Video getting football, smart screens going mainstream, and keeping necessities flowing during lockdown win Amazon our Brand of the Year award
By T3.com Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: B&Q nailed it this year and takes home our retailer award
By helping keep the country in one piece, B&Q wins our Retailer of the Year award
By T3.com Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: the Karcher LMO 18-33 is the mghtiest mower
For most lawns the Karcher is the most convenient, flexible and affordable option
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: Naim’s Mu-So 2 is back once again as the multi-room master
Naim's second generation Mu-So is a mesmerising wireless speaker and our wireless winner, in association with Deezer
By Carrie Marshall Published
-
T3 Awards 2020: Arlo Pro 3 is the top smart security tech of the year
Arlo Pro 3's comprehensive security options and ease of use captures our Best Smart Security award
By Matthew Bolton Published