The United Kingdom is one of many countries with 5G access. Several companies have already launched 5G in the UK, but not in every city, and they're continuing to expand all the time.

If you didn't already know, 5G is a huge advancement over 4G when it comes to speed and latency, which is why it's set to improve so many areas of our lives, like vehicle communication, smart cities, mobile communication, and entertainment.

EE

Europe's largest 4G provider, and the UK's biggest network operator, might become its biggest 5G provider. EE launched its 5G network in mid-2019. It is currently available for over half of the population, and the plan is to cover the whole country by 2028.

Use the EE Coverage Checker to see if your postcode is within range of the network.

BT Broadband is part of this same network.

O2

O2 rolled out 5G in a handful of cities in October 2019. Their network currently covers hundreds of locations, including part of the London Underground network. Check current coverage here.

The company offers unlimited data on its 5G plans and supports all the latest 5G devices. If you subscribe, you can expect speeds up to 35 percent faster than its 4G network; in some cases, up to 200 Mbps.

The network is also used by Tesco Mobile. They began offering 5G in March 2020.

Virgin Media merged with O2 in 2021, so they also use the same 5G network.

Vodafone

Vodafone launched 5G in just a handful of locations on July 3, 2019, but has since expanded to include hundreds of locations. The Network Status Checker shows where it's available.

The company has been involved in 5G for a long time. In 2017, they tested 5G in car-to-car communications, and a year later, made the UK's first 5G holographic phone call and installed antennae under manhole covers to pave the way for 5G. In 2019, Vodafone brought 5G to the Manchester Airport.

Pricing is the same as their 4G network. You'll get 5G standard with their unlimited plans.

Three

Three subscribers who want 5G at home can subscribe to their 5G broadband plan, which provides unlimited data on a yearly or monthly contract. Installation is performed via a plug-and-play hub.

Mobile 5G is available via monthly, SIM-only, and pay-as-you-go plans. Here's the coverage checker, and you can view all their 5G phone options here.

Sky Mobile

Sky Mobile has 5G access in parts of dozens of cities, including Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough, Lisburn, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Liverpool, Newcastle, Bradford, Sheffield, Bristol, Derby, and others. See all locations in their coverage map.

Sky VIP members can get 5G free forever.

Trials at 5G Innovation Center

Beyond the companies mentioned above that are actively testing and rolling out 5G networks, is the 5G/6G Innovation Centre at the University of Surrey in Guildford, Surrey, United Kingdom.

It's a testbed where researchers and partners can test and develop, in a real-world environment, any tech that could run on the next-gen wireless network. Their goal is to test 5G and 6G inside and outside, in urban and rural locations where coverage might be difficult, and places without a mobile network.