Jan 30, 2026
Mobile provider O2 has announced it is expanding its 5GSA to Gloucester, and now more than 70% of the UK’s population live in an area covered by 5GSA.
Despite the rapid growth, few people know the difference between a 5G and a 5GSA network. Here’s everything you need to know about 5GSA technology - and what it means for the future of mobile broadband.
What is 5GSA?
5GSA stands for 5G standalone. The term refers to 5G mobile networks designed exclusively for 5G connections, rather than networks that were originally designed for 4G connections and then upgraded.
Many ‘standard’ 5G connections use a 4G signal at some point in their communication between your device and the mobile broadband network. A 5GSA network uses 5G technology exclusively to provide a faster, higher bandwidth internet signal.
The benefits don’t stop there. 5GSA connections also offer lower latency, better energy efficiency for your devices, more stability for multi-device networks (great for smart homes) and better security.
5GSA connections are sometimes called 5G+ (this is how it might appear on your mobile screen), or 5G Ultra.
Which mobile providers have a 5GSA network?
O2 operates the largest 5GSA network in the UK, but it isn’t the only provider using the technology. Its dedicated 5GSA network includes 500 locations, including the homes of more than 49 million people.
Vodafone was the first mobile provider to launch a 5GSA network in the UK in 2023, which it initially branded as 5G Ultra. More than 1 million customers were in the network area on launch, and Vodafone claimed compatible devices like mobile phones would have 25% better battery life than when connected to 5G Ultra versus standard 5G.
EE was the third provider to invest in 5GSA technology. EE’s 5GSA connections can be used by any new and upgrading customers living in areas covered by the network - around 34 million people or half of the UK’s population.
The UK’s other carrier network - Three - has not directly upgraded its network to offer 5GSA connections. However, after last year’s merger with Vodafone, Three customers can use Vodafone’s network with their Three SIM card.
The next steps for mobile broadband - 5G, 6G and beyond
Upgrades to mobile networks across the UK - and across the world - are constantly ongoing as the demands placed on consumer broadband grow and grow. O2’s expansion of its 5GSA coverage is just one part of a £700 million investment it calls its ‘Mobile Transformation Plan’.
The investment is also laying the groundwork for the rollout of 6G, currently expected to arrive in the UK in 2030. This new standard for mobile broadband will see predicted average speeds of 50 Gbps and latency of less than 1 millisecond.
The issue faced by consumers is that mobile network investment and upgrades are not distributed evenly across the UK. It can be especially frustrating to see one mobile carrier improve its network in your area when you’re locked into a contract with another network.
That’s one of the reasons we believe multi-network mobile broadband is the way forward. Multi-network plans allow users to stay connected to the fastest network in their area, even when this changes. As investment in 5GSA and 6G technology continues, multi-network customers will be the ones to see the most benefit, regardless of where they live.
