Network Evolution

RootMetrics®, an independent company that specialises in benchmarking mobile networks (testing calls, mobile internet and texts), has awarded EE the RootScore Award - Combined for overall network performance in Hull and Manchester (May 2013).
We also topped the mobile internet category, with the fastest download and upload speeds around.*
Yet another recognition for our superfast mobile network.

This summer, 4GEE customers in 10 cities will start to enjoy double-speed 4G.
This means increased capacity, and access to some of the world's fastest mobile speeds.
The first 10 cities to enjoy double-speed 4G will be Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, London, Manchester and Sheffield.
The average speeds in these cities for existing and new 4GEE customers on all 4G smartphones, tablets and dongles will be more than 20Mbps. They're currently 10Mbps.
(Trials in Cardiff have already seen headline speeds reach 80Mbps plus.)
For more details and the technical background, you can read the press release

We have set a new standard for network performance with 4GEE.

We’ve been ranked highest for combined network performance as measured by RootMetrics who tested calls, mobile internet and texts across 3 cities in November and December 2012.

RootMetrics is an independent company which specialises in benchmarking mobile networks in ways that mirror the customer experience.

The studies that took place across Liverpool, Cardiff and Sheffield also ranked EE highest for mobile internet performance with EE having the fastest average download and upload speeds.

EE customers can access WiFi on the London Underground, provided by Virgin Media, at no extra cost.

The 4G roll out rolls on

By the end of April, our 4G network covered 63 towns and cities. 4G from EE now covers the homes and businesses of 50% of the UK population. By summer 2013 the network will be in at least 80 towns and cities as well as many of the suburban and rural areas that surround them. 

Our 3G network is getting turbocharged

The rapid roll out of DC-HSPA software means even faster download speeds for customers with compatible devices such as the Samsung Galaxy SIII and iPhone 5.
40% of the UK is  now covered.

3G network boost
Our 3G network is the biggest in the UK - we switched on over 300 new 3G transmitters in summer 2012.

We're rolling out the UK's first mobile 4G network.

We’ve also got the biggest 3G network in the UK, Fibre Broadband that's typically ten times faster than the UK average and quality 2G and 3G networks for calling.

And that's just the start… 

Our 3G network has more masts than any other and it covers 98% of the population, so when you’re not in a 4G area you still get fast, reliable internet access on your phone.

We’ve also beefed up 3G speeds on many of the latest phones thanks to a new technology called HSPA+.
This makes things like uploading photos to Facebook, watching live TV, downloading emails and watching YouTube clips both quicker and more reliable nationwide. 

Faster all the time

We’re still spending £1.4 million on our network every day.

That includes rolling out 4G to more places. But we’re also increasing the data capacity across our mobile network by completely overhauling our ‘internet backhaul’.

Basically it means we’re installing larger pipes to handle lots more data, so your mobile internet is consistent and reliable. We’re also making our 3G internet even faster – by installing a new software called DC-HSPA across 40% of the UK.

We’ve got a great network for calling too, with HD Voice for crystal clear call quality. When you’re in the street, at a train station or in any other noisy place, HD voice makes your calls crisper and easier to hear. So it’s much easier to keep your conversation going. 

New 4G phones from EE are HD Voice ready. And once you get one, using HD Voice is a doddle. You don’t have to do anything different. Or pay any extra. Just call anyone else on Orange, T-Mobile or EE with an HD ready phone, and your HD Voice will kick in automatically.

Our superfast, super reliable network didn't appear from nowhere - it's been a 30 year journey involving some huge phones, many leaps of faith and some very clever engineers.
We've moved from the mobile phone call on a bulky machine with a big antenna that couldn't fit in a briefcase… to Facebook updates and emails on the move on a lightweight, cool smartphone that fits neatly in your pocket.
But during this evolution we've always had one thing in the fronts of our minds - making it easier for you to communicate, for work or for pleasure, however you want and wherever you are.
Click + below to take your through the evolution of our network.

1G - almost pre-history

Remember those huge 1980s mobile phones? They used 1G (first generation) signals.

They were the first necessary step but for anyone who remembers them, the phones could only just be described as "mobile".

Still, the journey had begun...

2G – In the 1990s, the UK went digital with 2G and we still use 2G for calls and texts.

2.5G (also known as GPRS) – GPRS brought the internet to our phones by chopping data into bite-sized pieces.

2.75G (also known as EDGE) – EDGE gave us download speeds up to three times faster than GPRS.

Now we're getting somewhere. Millions of people start using their phones to do basic internet tasks like finding live football scores and getting news headlines.

3G – 3G is up to ten times faster than GPRS, and is perfect for browsing, tweeting and checking Facebook.

3.5G (also known as HSPA) – This new technology sped things up once again, making it easy to use apps and download music and videos on your phone. Now there’s HSPA+, which is great for HD film streaming.

With the introduction of smartphones and a fast network, browsing the internet becomes mainstream.

Millions of people use the internet every day and start watching movies.

This means a huge load on the network and we invest billions to keep up with demand.

Which brings us to now - with our 4G network which gives you superfast, super reliable internet wherever you are.

By the end of April, our 4G network covered 63 towns and cities. 4G from EE now covers the homes and businesses of 50% of the UK population. By summer 2013 the network will be in at least 80 towns and cities as well as many of the suburban and rural areas that surround them.

It's been quite an evolution but the EE journey has just begun. Make sure you're with us for the next exciting steps.