EE Launches Fast Lane in the UK, 5G+ Network Covers Approximately 54 Million People

en.Wedoany.com Reported - British telecom operator EE has launched a new feature called Fast Lane for UK customers, marking the country's first commercial service based on 5G+ network slicing, designed to provide consumers and small businesses with a dedicated high-performance channel on the 5G+ network.

The core mechanism of Fast Lane is to seamlessly migrate user connections to a dedicated resource zone on EE's 5G+ network when network congestion is predicted, thereby ensuring connection stability for streaming, sharing, and social activities during peak hours. Designed for scenarios such as rush-hour traffic and major events, this service is the first of its kind in the UK to target both consumers and small businesses simultaneously. It is built on EE's 5G+ network deployment, which already covers hundreds of major towns and cities across the UK and is currently available to approximately 54 million people, representing around 78% of the UK population.

Prior to launching Fast Lane, EE conducted multiple real-world trials of 5G+ network slicing over the past two years, with use cases including Wembley Stadium, the Belfast Christmas Market, the SailGP event in Portsmouth, EE's British Academy Film Awards (BAFTAs), and the 2026 Royal Welsh Show. As part of EE's £40 billion investment plan in the UK over this decade, its 5G+ network will cover 99% of the population by the end of March 2030.

Consumers can access Fast Lane by subscribing to a new premium monthly plan called Full Works Plus, which provides dedicated Fast Lane access when paired with a compatible 5G+ device. This plan adds £5 per month to EE's existing Full Works plan and includes unlimited high-speed data, global roaming, unlimited smartwatch data, home data gifting, one premium add-on, Anytime Upgrade, and Network Boost benefits. From today, new and renewing small business customers can also use Fast Lane by purchasing a compatible 5G+ handset and selecting an EE Full Works business plan.

To help users identify their network status, eligible customers will gradually see a 5G+ icon on their smartphones. This feature is already available on newer and select Android devices, with plans to expand to more devices later this year.

Claire Gillies, CEO of BT's Consumer division, said that Fast Lane leverages the 5G+ network to give customers access to a dedicated channel even in crowded environments. This innovation is built on years of investment in EE's 5G+ network and real-world network slicing trials, and now, as the UK's first commercial network slice, it delivers tangible connectivity benefits to both consumers and business users.