- BT Group extends its 5G autonomous infrastructure for more coverage
- A 5G + 5G + brand change will communicate the advantages to customers
- EE customers have already seen a boost this summer
BT Group has declared its commitment to provide an autonomous 5G, that it is 5G +brand, 99% of the British population by the end of its 2030 – four years ahead of the objectives of all rival.
With autonomous 5G, BT will upgrade its central infrastructure instead of simply adding 5G radios to 4G networks, which will increase performance at all levels.
Formation known as 5G standalone (SA), BT plans to rename the “5G +” technology to make the advantages clearer for customers. Two units are already alive in Leeds, with hundreds of others planned before 2030.
BT undertakes to a wider deployment 5G SA
Ericsson radios will be responsible for improvements, with rising bonding capacity up to 4x larger. Upgrades will also lead to EE network capacity to manage up to 100 times more capacity than 4G, which allows better reliability in high demand areas such as cities and major events.
Howard Watson, head of security and networks of the BT group, also noted that 1,500 small cells are also in operation across the United Kingdom to stimulate coverage, 500 having been added in the last 12 months.
Watson has cited a recent group report indicating that “continuous improvement in the quality of the mobile network could unlock up to 230 billion pounds of economic growth for the United Kingdom”, but the entrepreneur has recognized that 5G widening will not solve all the problems.
“Targeted interventions will always be necessary to solve specific problems, such as improving connectivity along the railways,” he added.
Earlier in 2025, BT Group said that 34 million British customers would have access to the 5G SA network (now 5G +) by EE by the end of August 2025, with 45 new locations added in the summer. In the spring of 2026, we hope that 41 million people would have access to 5G + EE.
“Whether you call a video on a crowded station, live on the social networks of a closed countertop concert, or simply stay in touch with your family and friends during the summer holidays, the 5G autonomous on EE makes your experience more fluid, faster and safer,” added Greg McCall, director of BT group group networks.
The news occurs while the BT group ranks among the worst experiences of mobile users across Europe due to the poor implementation of 5G.
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