EE is reintroducing a much-missed roaming perk as part of new speedier data plans.
The BT-owned firm is unleashing the next version of 5G, known officially as 5G standalone.
Upgraded tech makes the network more responsive without having to piggyback on 4G, extra reliable and improves capacity so a greater number of people can stay connected without constant loading issues.
EE says the changes should improve indoor coverage too.
It all comes as part of a new suite of unlimited data plans available from today.
As the kit is newer, it’ll use less of your smartphone’s battery as well.
The benefits are particularly handy for densely populated areas, so 5G standalone is coming to fifteen major UK cities first.
These include:
- Bath
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Bradford
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Hull
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Sheffield
And when you’re in a busy spot without 5G standalone available, you’ll receive a Network Boost which essentially prioritises you over other users who don’t subscribe to the top tier plans.
But for those who travel a lot and want to stay connected, the start feature will be the return of inclusive EU roaming, as opposed to requiring an add-on.
EE removed inclusive roaming from new plans in 2021 following Brexit.
But it’ll be included with the new Essentials+, All Rounder and Full Works plans.
Those who take the most expensive Full Works tier will receive EE’s Roam Further Pass on top, extending their allowance to Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.
Prices that include EU roaming start from £36 per month for a SIM only deal with the Essentials+ option.
If you’re an existing EE Broadband customer you can redeem a £20 discount per month for every eligible SIM you order.
To benefit from 5G standalone you will need a new SIM too.
Elsewhere, BT has introduced a “global first” bonus perk that allows users to pick a Google One AI Premium with the Full Works line up.
How do other networks compare?
Vodafone was first to introduce 5G standalone to the UK, starting with London, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff in June 2023 – and at no extra cost.
Meanwhile, Virgin Media O2 launched its version to 14 cities in February. It is now live in 304 towns and cities across the UK and also available to customers at no extra cost.
Three hasn’t detailed when customers can expect to receive 5G standalone on its network.
WI-FI UPGRADE
5G wasn’t the only announcement from EE today.
The company also announced new Wi-Fi devices that provides faster and more reliable speeds around the home.
EE Full Fibre customers will be among the first in the world to experience Wi-Fi 7, the latest standard of Wi-Fi, meaning better cloud gaming, AR/VR and 4K/8K video streaming.
Are the new plans worth it?
Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun
The worthiness of EE’s new plans really depend on your data needs and the usefulness of all the extras that come with it.
And if you’re an existing EE Broadband customer it’s even more cost effective with £20 off per month which is available on as many extra SIMs as you need in your household.
5G standalone is the bit EE want to shout about most but unless you live and/or work in one of the 15 launch cities you won’t notice a difference.
Network Boost sounds like a decent proposition in the meantime, putting you to the front of the queue for data ahead of other customers.
But the one lots of people will be interested in is the return of inclusive EU roaming – so you can use your existing data without having to pay for add-ons each time you go away.
The bonus Extras on offer includes Google One AI Premium which comes with access to the Gemini AI tool but crucially a load of space to store your photos and videos in the cloud – alternative you can pick either Apple One, Netflix, Xbox Game Pass Ultimate and TNT Sports as a plan benefit.
So if you can get genuine use out of all of these, it’s worth considering – and more so if you have EE Broadband.