• EE expands 5G network to more than 50% of the UK population, and becomes the first UK mobile operator to do so
• Milestone achieved five years ahead of government ambition as EE continues to grow network leadership
• 5G technology live in locations with high summer footfall including St Austell, Falmouth and Morecambe, to help customers stay connected

EE today announced its 5G network has now passed 50% population coverage in the UK.

EE launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019 and is the first and only mobile operator to pass this significant milestone. The achievement comes one year ahead of EE’s target and five years ahead of the government’s ambition.

EE’s 5G technology is live in locations across the UK with expected high summer footfall, to help keep customers connected on their holiday breaks. New locations, or those with an improved 5G service, include:

• Blackpool
• Clacton-on-Sea
• Clitheroe
• Cowes
• Eastbourne
• Exeter
• Exmouth
• Falmouth
• Great Malvern
• Hastings
• Inverness
• Minehead
• Morecambe
• Plymouth
• Pontypridd
• Poole
• Ross-on-Wye
• Salisbury
• St Austell
• Tiverton

Digital Infrastructure Minister Julia Lopez, said: "I am delighted to see EE has made good progress rolling out 5G to half of the country. The technology, which can be up to 20 times faster than 4G, will help us in our aims to level up our economy and unleash the potential of communities across the UK.

"We are working alongside industry to boost rural coverage through a £1 billion deal with mobile phone operators and are developing a new strategy to boost further investment in 5G and help operators rapidly expand their networks."

Marc Allera, CEO Consumer Division, BT Group, said: “Today’s milestone is a huge achievement in our 5G journey. EE was the first network to launch 5G in the UK and now we’re the first mobile network operator to take the technology to 50% of the UK population. Our ambitions for 5G don’t stop here. We’ll continue to invest in our network to provide our customers with unrivalled connectivity.”

As part of its ongoing network investment, EE has pledged to offer 5G anywhere in the UK by 2028 through its macro network and ‘on demand’ connectivity solutions.