- Network expansion brings 4G connectivity to more than 322,000 miles of roads in Great Britain
- 160 new 4G EE sites built in 2020, helping people stay connected to friends and family, entertainment, work and education
- EE grows 4G coverage footprint in every national park in Great Britain this year, with more than two thirds of total area now covered
- EE’s 4G network now covers 85% of the UK, according to Ofcom’s Connected Nations report out today, 6% higher than higher than the last placed operator
- New sites will cater for 40% year on year increase in 4G data usage, and provide the infrastructure for future 5G rollout
- Partnership with the Scottish Government, the Home Office, the Scottish Futures Trust and WHP Telecoms Ltd. brings reliable 4G to rural locations in Scotland for the first time
- ESN’s Rapid Response Vehicles and Rapid Response Cells used to provide extra coverage, capacity and network resilience
EE today announced its 4G network now covers 94% of Great Britain’s roads, bringing reliable mobile connectivity to even more people and places. Customers can now use EE’s award-winning 4G network on over 322,000 miles of roads across Great Britain, the equivalent distance of Land’s End to John O’Groats more than 500 times over. EE has also expanded its 4G coverage footprint in every national park in Great Britain this year, with more than two thirds (69%) of the total area now covered.
According to the latest Connected Nations report published by Ofcom today, EE’s 4G network has the largest geographical coverage at 85% – 6% higher than the last placed operator. In 2020, EE has built 160 new sites – 92 in Scotland, 43 in England, and 25 in Wales.
EE’s mobile network investment will help meet the yearly 40% increase in 4G data usage and will provide the foundation for EE’s 5G network as rollout continues across the UK. The new sites will help customers stay connected to the things that matter to them the most, at a time where connectivity is more important than ever.
EE has also partnered with the Scottish Government, the Home Office, the Scottish Futures Trust and WHP Telecoms Ltd. to bring 4G to some of Scotland’s most rural locations for the first time. Strathconon, Blairmore, Little Mill and Reawick have all been connected to 4G, with a further 31 locations across Scotland in the pipeline to be delivered through the Scottish Government’s Scottish 4G Infill programme.
Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s Consumer business, said: “Having access to a resilient and reliable mobile network has never been more important. Our 4G network covers more of the UK’s geography than any other, and we’re continuing to invest in it right across the UK to keep our customers connected and bring coverage to rural areas for the very first time. 4G forms the basis of our award-winning 5G network, and with this investment we’ll be able to roll out the latest mobile technology to even more parts of the UK.”
As part of EE’s Emergency Service Network partnership with the Home Office, EE’s 4G network is used to support the critical work of the emergency services. ESN’s Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs) and Rapid Response Cells (RRCs) are mobile 4G base stations, enabling them to provide 4G coverage in any place at any time and extending EE’s network even further. In 2020, these emergency response capabilities helped provide temporary, remote coverage for emergency workers during a rural railway derailment in Scotland, replacement signal for sites damaged in arson attacks and additional capacity to support COVID-19 testing stations.
EE’s network has been named the UK’s best network for seven years running. EE continues to top the results in UK wide overall mobile network testing, winning six of RootMetrics’ awards outright – overall performance, reliability, accessibility, speed, data, and call – and taking joint first for text.
EE launched the UK’s first 5G service in May 2019 and now has 5G in 112 towns and cities across the UK. In the last 12 months, EE has more than doubled its amount of 5G sites in key cities such as Belfast, Birmingham, Cardiff and Edinburgh, bringing the latest mobile technology to even more people.
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About EE
EE runs the UK’s biggest and fastest mobile network, offering superfast connections in more places than any other operator. EE brought the first 4G network to the UK in October 2012, and launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019.
EE has received extensive independent recognition, including being named the UK’s no.1 5G network by RootMetrics® in 2020 and being named the UK’s best network every year since 2014 for the following awards: The Mobile Choice Awards, The Mobile Industry Awards and by RootMetrics®.
As well as offering mobile services to consumers, small and medium businesses, corporate customers and Government departments, EE also provides home and business broadband using both 4G and fixed line connections.
EE is committed to being number one for service in the industry and has nearly 600 shops across the UK. EE remains the only mobile provider to answer 100% of customer calls in the UK and Ireland and was recognised as the UK’s Best Large Contact Centre by the UK Customer Experience Awards 2018 and Welsh Contact Centre Awards 2019. EE was awarded The Sunday Times’ Best 100 Companies to Work for in 2018 and 2019, as well as being named Best Employer 2018 by the European Contact Centre & Customer Service awards.
EE is part of BT’s Consumer business unit which provides products and services to all of BT’s consumer customers in the UK.
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Source: EE Newsroom
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