EE says its new Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology will eliminate slow 5G performance caused by network congestion. Described as a world-first solution, ARC lets a congested mast borrow spare capacity from nearby, less busy masts in real time. Data is rerouted dynamically to where it’s needed most, delivering smoother and faster connections without building additional towers.
Following a successful trial in Bristol, the system has gone live in Manchester and Edinburgh, timed to support large gatherings such as the cities’ renowned Fringe and International Festivals. Festival attendees attempting to upload videos, send messages, or browse the web now experience more reliable connections in crowded areas where service might previously have failed.
EE reports that users in these optimized zones are seeing average download speeds increase by around 20 percent, with performance more than doubling under ideal conditions. The technology has also been deployed to improve connectivity for commuters at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, reducing dropped video calls and buffering for customers waiting on the platform.
Rather than relying on disruptive and costly hardware installs, ARC is largely software-driven. The upgrade is activated by a small optical device connected to existing network equipment. This approach is supported by BT Group’s fibre network, which links masts with extremely low latency—under half a millisecond—allowing near-instant coordination between sites.
Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT Group, said: “EE customers are the first in the world to benefit from this technology, with millions of them getting a huge boost to the 5G connectivity they rely on every day. By increasing capacity in this way, our customers will get faster speeds and an even more reliable experience instantly.”
EE plans to continue rolling out ARC over the next year, bringing improvements to London, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Sunderland.
This intelligent coordination complements EE’s expansion of its 5G Standalone (5GSA) network, which is essential for reducing slow speeds and unlocking the full potential of the latest smartphones from manufacturers such as Apple, Samsung, and Google.
The company aims to extend 5GSA to a further 17 towns and cities by the end of 2025—locations include Brighton, Bolton, Oxford, and Portsmouth—with a target of reaching more than 41 million people by spring 2026.
Luca Orsini, Head of Ericsson North Europe, added: “Our collaboration with EE on this world-first deployment is a standout example of how innovative software solutions can make a real difference for network performance. By enabling more efficient use of existing spectrum and infrastructure, we’re helping EE deliver enhanced connectivity to their customers while setting a new benchmark for network optimisation in the industry.”
See also: Singtel and Tencent debut network slicing for 5G cloud gaming
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