Three UK has announced plans to deliver the nation’s fastest 5G service when it rolls out in 25 cities later this year.
Although Three is the UK’s smallest operator by subscriber numbers, the company has a history of notable milestones. It was the first operator to launch a 3G network in the UK and has consistently emphasised strong data services across its networks.
Dave Dyson, CEO of Three, said: “Consumers and businesses continue to demand more data. We believe we have the UK’s best network for data and have led the market in customer usage on both 3G and 4G. We have invested heavily over a long period to deliver the best end-to-end 5G experience.”
Three has acquired 140MHz of 5G spectrum, which it says will enable peak speeds up to twice as fast as any competing network at launch. By comparison, Vodafone holds 50MHz of spectrum, making it Three’s closest rival on that metric.
The International Telecommunication Union (ITU), which sets global 5G standards, indicates that a minimum of 100MHz of 5G spectrum is required to deliver the full capabilities often associated with “true” 5G. With 140MHz, Three positions itself to claim it can offer that full experience.
“5G is a game changer for Three,” added Dyson. “I’m excited that we will be the only UK operator able to offer true 5G across our launches.”
Three intends to launch 5G services in 25 cities before the end of 2019, including London, Birmingham, Bolton, Bradford, Brighton, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Milton Keynes, Nottingham, Reading, Rotherham, Sheffield, Slough, Sunderland, and Wolverhampton.
If Three completes launches in all 25 cities, it will outpace EE and Vodafone, both of which announced plans for fewer than 20 locations, while O2 has yet to confirm its rollout schedule.
In addition to mobile services, Three will introduce 5G home broadband first in London in August. The operator has said it will provide further details on pricing and the 5G smartphones it intends to offer in July.
While Three may not be the absolute first or second to go live with 5G in the UK, its spectrum holdings and rollout ambitions suggest it aims to set the benchmark for 5G performance and coverage.
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