Vodafone has said that its 5G service in the UK on July 3rd.
It is the first firm to confirm a UK switch-on date and both business customers and consumers will be able to sign up. 5G will mean faster and more reliable data speeds for customers in busy areas. The company will rely on equipment from Huawei to deliver the service. The UK government is still carrying out a review of the telecoms sector which has the potential to restrict or even block the use of Huawei’s kit to address cyber-security concerns.
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Vodafone has said seven cities will be involved in the initial roll-out:
- Birmingham
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Glasgow
- Manchester
- Liverpool
- London
Users will need a 5G-compatible smartphone or router to take advantage of the technology.
Vodafone said in a statement: “Offering speeds over 5G up to 10 times faster than 4G, we’ve shown commuters at busy airports and railway stations that they can download TV box sets or movies in a matter of seconds before they embark on their journey,”
It is likely to take years or even decades for the technology’s full potential to be in full use.
The company has said it intends to extend the facility to a further dozen locations before the end of the year:
- Birkenhead
- Blackpool
- Bournemouth
- Guildford
- Newbury
- Portsmouth
- Plymouth
- Reading
- Southampton
- Stoke-on-Trent
- Warrington
- Wolverhampton
Phones which will be compatible with 5G will not be available until the 5G network is 100% ready.
