EE deploys world-first solution for slow 5G speeds in crowds

EE believes Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) will put an end to slow 5G speeds due to digital gridlock, and it’s a world-first solution.

When one mobile mast gets overwhelmed with users, ARC allows it to intelligently borrow spare capacity from other, less busy masts nearby. This sharing happens in real-time, rerouting data flow to where it’s needed most and ensuring a smoother, faster experience for everyone, without the need to build any new towers.

After a successful trial in Bristol, the system went live in Manchester and Edinburgh, just in time for the city’s world-renowned Fringe and International Festivals. For anyone trying to upload a video, message a friend, or simply browse the web among the festival crowds, the upgrade meant a more reliable connection where it would likely have previously failed.

EE reports that in these active zones, users are seeing download speeds that are, on average, 20 percent faster, with performance more than doubling in ideal conditions. The technology has also been deployed to support commuters at Edinburgh’s Waverley Station, aiming to make slow 5G speeds causing dropped video calls and buffering streams a thing of the past for EE customers waiting on the platform.

Instead of disruptive and costly hardware installations, the upgrade is primarily software-driven, activated by a small optical device plugged into the existing network equipment. This is all underpinned by BT Group’s fibre optic network, which connects the masts with such low latency (a delay of less than half a millisecond) that they can coordinate with each other almost instantly.

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.”

Over the next year, people in London, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Sunderland can expect to see these improvements as the rollout continues.

This smarter network approach arrives as EE also pushes ahead with expanding its 5G Standalone (5GSA) network, which is the key to ending slow speeds and maximising the potential of the latest smartphones from Apple, Samsung, and Google.

The company plans to bring its 5GSA network to a further 17 towns and cities by the end of 2025 – including places like Brighton, Bolton, Oxford, and Portsmouth – with the goal of covering over 41 million people by spring 2026.

Luca Orsini, Head of Ericsson North Europe, commented: “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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Tags: 5G, bt, connectivity, EE, europe, mobile, networks, RAN, telecoms, uk