EE brings back much-missed roaming perk with new speedier 5G plans – and there’s a ‘world first’ Google bonus too
EE is reintroducing a much-missed roaming perk as part of new speedier data plans.
The BT-owned firm is unleashing the next version of 5G, known officially as 5G standalone.
Upgraded tech makes the network more responsive without having to piggyback on 4G, extra reliable and improves capacity so a greater number of people can stay connected without constant loading issues.
EE says the changes should improve indoor coverage too.
It all comes as part of a new suite of unlimited data plans available from today.
As the kit is newer, it'll use less of your smartphone's battery as well.
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The benefits are particularly handy for densely populated areas, so 5G standalone is coming to fifteen major UK cities first.
These include:
- Bath
- Belfast
- Birmingham
- Bradford
- Bristol
- Cardiff
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow
- Hull
- Leeds
- Leicester
- Liverpool
- London
- Manchester
- Sheffield
And when you're in a busy spot without 5G Standalone available, you'll receive a Network Boost which essentially prioritises you over other users who don't subscribe to the top tier plans.
But for those who travel a lot and want to stay connected, the start feature will be the return of inclusive EU roaming, as opposed to requiring an add-on.
EE removed inclusive roaming from new plans in 2021 following Brexit.
But it'll be included with the new Essentials+, All Rounder and Full Works plans.
Those who take the most expensive Full Works tier will receive EE’s Roam Further Pass on top, extending their allowance to Australia, USA, Canada, Mexico and New Zealand.
Prices that include EU roaming start from £42 per month for a SIM only deal.
If you're an existing EE Broadband customer you can redeem a £20 discount per month for every eligible SIM you order.
To benefit from 5G standalone you will need a new SIM too.
Elsewhere, BT has introduced a "global first" bonus perk that allows users to pick a Google One AI Premium with the Full Works line up.
WI-FI UPGRADE
5G wasn't the only announcement from EE today.
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The company also announced new Wi-Fi devices that provides faster and more reliable speeds around the home.
EE Full Fibre customers will be among the first in the world to experience Wi-Fi 7, the latest standard of Wi-Fi, meaning better cloud gaming, AR/VR and 4K/8K video streaming.
How to save on your mobile phone bill
NOT happy with your current mobile phone deal?
If you’re outside the minimum term of your contract then you won't need to pay a cancellation fee - and you might be able to find a cheaper deal elsewhere.
But don't just switch contracts because the price is cheaper than what you're currently paying.
Take a look at how many minutes and texts, as well as how much data you're using, to find out which deal is best for you.
For example, if you're a heavy internet user it's worth finding a deal that accommodates this so you don't end up spending extra on bundles or add-ons each month.
Also note that if you're still in your contract period, you might be charged an exit fee.
Ready to look elsewhere? Pay-as-you-go deals are better for people who don’t regularly use their phone, while monthly contracts usually work out cheaper for those who do.
It's worth using comparison websites, such as MoneySupermarket and uSwitch.com, to compare tariffs and phone prices.
Billmonitor also matches buyers to the best pay-monthly deal based on their previous three months of bills.
It only works if you’re a customer of EE, O2, Three, Vodafone or Tesco Mobile and you’ll need to log in with your online account details.
There's also MobilePhoneChecker, which has a bill monitoring feature that recommends a tariff based on your monthly usage.
If you’re happy with your provider then it might be worth using your research to haggle a better deal.