BT-owned mobile operator EE has launched a 5G test network in Canary Wharf, London, as a precursor to a full commercial rollout planned for next year.
As the UK’s largest mobile operator by subscriber numbers, EE’s test launch marks a significant step in the country’s transition to 5G.
Fotis Karonis, 5G Technology Lead at BT Group, said:
“This is the latest milestone in our 5G rollout — a live test of our 5G network in a very busy hotspot where we expect strong demand for increased mobile capacity.
With continual 4G upgrades and the groundwork being laid for 5G, we’re focused on delivering what customers need — both consumers and the industries that will make the most of 5G.
We were UK pioneers with 4G, and today we’ve seen the UK’s first live 5G connections — a major step forward for our digital infrastructure.”
EE first announced plans for the 5G network in June, describing it as the UK’s first comprehensive test. Although some anticipated that O2 might launch its own testbed at the O2 Arena first, EE reached the market before its rival.
The current test network covers Montgomery Square in Canary Wharf, chosen for its high footfall and heavy data use. Around 150,000 people visit the square each day, offering a realistic environment to evaluate network performance under significant traffic.
Mark Nallen, Head of Technology and Innovation at Canary Wharf Group, commented:
“Remaining at the forefront of connectivity and new technologies is vital for our community, which is why we’re partnering with BT Group to support delivery of 5G.
Residents, workers, and visitors here will benefit from improved connectivity, and the businesses based in Canary Wharf will have opportunities to collaborate with BT Group to explore 5G’s full capabilities.”
For this test, EE is using network equipment supplied by Huawei and operating on the 3.4 GHz spectrum it secured in Ofcom’s auction earlier this year.
The use of Huawei equipment remains contentious. Across Europe, Huawei gear is widely used and respected by many operators, but some countries have taken a different stance. Australia recently banned equipment from Huawei and ZTE from its 5G market on national security grounds, following the lead of the United States.
The US and Australia are members of the Five Eyes intelligence alliance, which also includes the UK, Canada, and New Zealand. The US has been reportedly urging partner countries to adopt similar bans.
In contrast, Canadian security officials recently stated that Canada has sufficient safeguards in place and does not intend to follow the US and Australia in banning these vendors. Canada argues that excluding specific manufacturers can increase security risks by concentrating network exposure on other suppliers; if one vendor’s equipment were compromised, it would represent a larger portion of infrastructure.
Rather than impose blanket bans, both the UK and Canada have opted to establish security labs where officials can assess telecom equipment for vulnerabilities. This testing-led approach aims to balance security with competition and innovation.
Testing equipment, rather than outright banning vendors, can be a more pragmatic strategy: competition tends to improve pricing and drive technological advancement, while bans could prevent operators like EE from accessing high-quality equipment that might otherwise boost network performance.
Interested in hearing industry leaders discuss these topics and share practical use cases? Attend co-located industry expos such as IoT Tech Expo, Blockchain Expo, AI & Big Data Expo, and Cyber Security & Cloud Expo, which run in multiple locations including Silicon Valley, London, and Amsterdam.