5G network switched on in five more towns

Communications provider EE has switched on 5G in Castleford, Mirfield, Shipley, Pontefract and Doncaster, allowing more customers in the region to receive the latest mobile network technology.

The five places join more than 30 new towns and cities across the UK, since May, that can now access 5G from EE.

It also brings the total number of places across Yorkshire and The Humber connected to 5G on the company’s network to 11.

EE, part of BT Group, launched the UK’s first 5G service in May 2019 and has now expanded to 112 towns and cities across the UK.

The five new towns are among the first places in Yorkshire to receive the next generation mobile technology, following the first sites going live in the region last year.

Marc Allera, CEO of BT’s consumer business, said: “Delivering the best mobile experience for our customers has never been more important.

“Our 5G rollout continues apace, with our engineers building and upgrading new sites every day to bring the latest mobile technology to even more people in the places they need it.

“We have 5G coverage in more places than anyone in the UK, and we remain focused on connecting many more areas this year and beyond.”

Liz Needleman, BT Group, North of England, said: “It’s great to see more places in Yorkshire benefit from 5G. The new technology will enable a faster, more reliable mobile connection, helping a range of sectors.

“We know that demands for data from consumers and businesses are continuing to increase, so the arrival of 5G in more places in the region will make sure it’s ahead of the game in terms of connectivity and competitiveness.”

Roger Marsh, chairman of Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership and the NP11 group of Northern local enterprise partnerships, said: “The roll-out of 5G to more towns in Leeds City Region and across Yorkshire is an important step in realising our ambitions for digital connectivity.

“The past few months have highlighted the increasingly important role that digital communication plays in all our lives, both rural and urban, and we want to make sure these benefits can be felt by everyone.

“Digital and 5G technology have played a key role in home working and have the potential to usher in radical new innovations in sectors like as manufacturing, construction, health and social care.

“They will be a key driver of the economic recovery and growth in the years to come.”