EE Commits £1.5 Billon to Expanding 4G

EE has announced a new manifesto called ‘Signalling the Future’, which will see it investing around £1.5 billion between now and 2017 in improving and expanding its network.

EE 4G Manifesto

EE’s new manifesto is designed to address the changing infrastructure needs of the UK, extending the 4GEE network to 99% of the population and 90% of the UK’s geography, and allowing the country to be a global leader in communications.

Here are just a few of the pledges outlined in the EE manifesto:

  • EE’s 4G footprint will be larger than the UK’s current 2G footprint by 2017 following a £1.5 billion investment in the network.
  • EE will roll out its highest capacity 4G+ to twenty of the UK’s busiest cities in the next two years. This will double capacity for every EE customer and allow 150Mbps speeds to some devices.
  • EE’s rural investment programme will enhance voice and data services for 1,500 communities that are currently unconnected, using Micro Network technology. EE will also deploy low frequency 800MHz spectrum across rural areas to expand is reach by 1,500 square miles.
  • EE will increase 4G coverage of the road network, starting with motorways, then A and B roads, increasing road coverage from 82% to over 90%. They will also expand 4G to the UKs busiest train routes.

According to EE CEO Olaf Swantee “Stage one of our Network strategy saw us overhaul UK mobile networks, launching 4G and changing the way people and businesses use their smart devices. This revolution of the mobile landscape has made the UK a leader in global communications once again. Today we’re announcing the next stage with a commitment to, once again, radically improve mobile coverage, this time with a strong focus on rural UK, all while continuing to increase speeds and capacity with deeper coverage in more cities. Smart devices are playing an ever-increasing part in our customers’ lives in every part of the UK. With the £1.5bn investment plan, and our unceasing desire to continually improve the breadth and performance of our network, we are at the forefront of the new mobile era that is changing customers’ lives every day.”

EE sets record for 4G growth

In January EE set the record for 4G growth by adding 5.7 million customers to its 4G network over 12 months. EE now has 7.7 million 4G customers, far exceeding its year-end target of 6 million, with 1.7 million being added in the last two months alone. This means it has added more 4G customers than any other network in Europe.

In Q4 of 2014 EE added an additional 200 towns and cities to its 4G network, bringing the total to 510 towns and cities with a population of 10,000 or above. Towns that have recently had 4G switched on include Hastings, Worthing, Worcester, Scunthorpe, Crewe, Rugby, Bognor Regis, Stratford-Upon-Avon, Bangor and Llandudno.

EE, which is being bought by telecoms group BT, also vowed to be a key stakeholder in a multi-year programme to ensure that the UK will be leader in 5G mobile technology.