EE to provide 95% landmass 4G coverage by 2020

As part of a new strategy, EE has set itself the objective of expanding the geographical reach of its 4G network in the UK from the 60 per cent seen today to 95 per cent by 2020. This would increase the proportion of the UK’s population covered by the network from 95 per cent to 99.8 per cent. As part of this objective, EE will build more than 750 new sites.

EE has today (25 April) switched on 4G mobile services in Shetland and the Isles of Scilly, enabled by the fibre broadband links deployed by BT. EE is also rolling out 4G calling (VoLTE) across the UK. The service is already live in London, Birmingham, Bristol, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Belfast, Leeds and Newcastle, and will be switched on across the rest of the network by July.

In a press release, EE stated that policy reform will be necessary to building and painting such a widespread mobile network, such as: ensuring that proposed changes to the Electronic Communications Code support operators’ coverage ambitions; that all parts of the UK build on the recent positive announcements on planning changes for England; and that industry, Government and Ofcom work together to improve network operators’ financial incentives to invest. EE will continue to consult the Government and Ofcom on these issues.