You might own a flashy new smartphone but if there’s no mobile signal it becomes a pretty useless, but expensive, piece of technology. EE is now hoping that a recent upgrade will make those dreaded dead spots far less common with the UK network boasting that it has just boosted 500 sites across the country to improve connectivity. This update is part of the Shared Rural Network (SRN) initiative which is aimed at helping extend coverage in areas that are less densely populated.
Many of the upgrades have also been targeted at helping to improve coverage throughout the UK’s vast road network.
Roads getting better coverage from EE under the programme include the M1, M4 and M6 in England, A487, A489 and A4212 in Wales, A838, A85 and A90 in Scotland and A1 and A24 in Northern Ireland.
Along with this recent update, EE is also promising to deliver around 900 more upgrades to rural areas of the UK by 2024.
Although 4G isn’t as quick as the latest 5G technology, this network still offers users speeds in excess of 50Mbps which easily makes it fast enough for streaming videos, surfing the web and sending emails.
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Speaking about the latest boost, Philip Jansen, Chief Executive of BT Group, said: “BT is committed to ensuring that even the most remote areas of the country are connected. Despite a challenging economic environment, we’re continuing to invest in rural infrastructure to achieve that. EE’s 4G has expanded by 500 square miles over the past year and we continue to be the sole provider of mobile services in many areas of the UK.”
What is the difference between 4G and 5G?
Most new smartphones, including the latest Galaxy devices and iPhones, now offer access to 5G. This relatively new technology offers download speeds in excess of 300Mbps – that’s around four times faster than the average UK broadband speed.
As well as being faster, 5G can also cope better when lots of devices are all trying to connect at the same time making it ideal for bustling train stations or people-packed stadiums.
Although 4G is slower it can still deliver speeds in excess of 50Mbps. It’s also easier for networks to install as the masts are smaller than what’s needed for 5G.