Three to launch London 5G network in August

5G graphic

Three will launch a 5G home broadband service for London in August, with mobile 5G and an additional 24 locations before the end of 2019.

The company has said it plans to deliver "at least" double the speeds of its telco rivals, achieving speeds its says will deliver a "true 5G experience", which requires the use of 100MHz of 5G spectrum as set out by the global 5G standards technology body, the ITU.

Three claimed the use of 100MHz spectrum, compared to the 50MHz and 40MHz used by rivals such as Vodafone and EE respectively, alongside the investment it has made in high-capacity smart antennas will enable it to deliver "the fastest 5G network in the UK".

However, Three didn't give any examples of the type of connection or download speeds its 5G network will facilitate.

The telecoms company also noted that its network would provide "a more reliable connection and experience for customers".

"We have the UK's best network for data and we have led the market on customer usage on both 3G and 4G technologies. We have worked hard over a long period of time to be able to offer the best end to end 5G experience," noted Dave Dyson, chief executive at Three. "5G is a game changer for Three, and of course I am excited that we will be the only operator in the UK who can offer true 5G."

Three will have the chance to back up its claims when its 5G network launches in the capital in around two months time. By the end of 2019 the network is expected to cover the following cities and towns as well:

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BirminghamBolton
BradfordBrighton
BristolCardiff
CoventryDerby
EdinburghGlasgow
HullLeeds
LeicesterLiverpool
ManchesterMiddlesbrough
Milton KeynesNottingham
ReadingRotherham
SheffieldSlough
SunderlandWolverhampton

While it may come as a surprise to see a telco focusing on home broadband rather than mobile when talking about 5G, for Three it's something of a natural progression. Only last year the company was talking about the potential for 5G to replace fixed-line home broadband, so the "plug-and-play" boxes making their way to the capital this summer can be seen as a clear step in that direction.

Roland Moore-Colyer

Roland is a passionate newshound whose journalism training initially involved a broadcast specialism, but he’s since found his home in breaking news stories online and in print.

He held a freelance news editor position at ITPro for a number of years after his lengthy stint writing news, analysis, features, and columns for The Inquirer, V3, and Computing. He was also the news editor at Silicon UK before joining Tom’s Guide in April 2020 where he started as the UK Editor and now assumes the role of Managing Editor of News.

Roland’s career has seen him develop expertise in both consumer and business technology, and during his freelance days, he dabbled in the world of automotive and gaming journalism, too.