In reply to a post by hoopla:

5G has indeed been announced, but nowhere in the UK has full standalone 5G been rolled out. That's why you're not seeing the benefits.

Standalone Architecture (SA) is where a massive amount of the cost is. All the UK networks are currently Non Standalone Architecture (NSA) which means sharing the core network with the 4G customers.

Depends what "full benefits" means, but the lower latency promises is likely to come with SA. I believe in the USA they have one network (T-mobile) that has only one of its frequencies on SA, the rest are NSA.

Don't believe the hype....

Well as with all mobile coverage it depends where you live ... I get a steady 350/80Mb 5G broadband connection in my small town from Three.

In reply to a post by Spud2003:

Well as with all mobile coverage it depends where you live ... I get a steady 350/80Mb 5G broadband connection in my small town from Three.

You must be relatively close to one of the new Phase 8 street works monopoles. I'm about .5 mile too far from one, so only get 30 Mbps on 4G from Three. (Where EE can supply 250 Mbps on 4G). If I go to my local Morrisons I have managed Three speeds of 700 Mbps.

In reply to a post by jchamier:

In reply to a post by hoopla:

5G has indeed been announced, but nowhere in the UK has full standalone 5G been rolled out. That's why you're not seeing the benefits.

Standalone Architecture (SA) is where a massive amount of the cost is. All the UK networks are currently Non Standalone Architecture (NSA) which means sharing the core network with the 4G customers.

Depends what "full benefits" means, but the lower latency promises is likely to come with SA. I believe in the USA they have one network (T-mobile) that has only one of its frequencies on SA, the rest are NSA.

Don't believe the hype....

Hopefully in time SA brings about core simplification and corresponding reduction in cost. The mobile networks are smarting. The last thing they need is more complexity and additional cost. In the end we all pay. We’re already on the verge of 3 rather than 4 full networks here and elsewhere in Europe and the west as they are operating in a now saturated market with wafer margins. Like broadband really.

In reply to a post by Pheasant:

Hopefully in time SA brings about core simplification and corresponding reduction in cost. The mobile networks are smarting. The last thing they need is more complexity and additional cost. In the end we all pay. We’re already on the verge of 3 rather than 4 full networks here and elsewhere in Europe and the west as they are operating in a now saturated market with wafer margins. Like broadband really.

Exactly, and the increase in electricity costs has really hurt, the amount of energy a mobile network takes to run is quite significant.