Skip to main content

5G mobile connections coming in 2020 says London Mayor

Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, will promise in a presentation this week to bring hyper-fast 5G mobile connections to the city by 2020. It’s all part of a long-term investment plan into the city’s infrastructure needs, which will lay out a basic roadmap between now and 2050. Johnson’s statement comes several months after UK Prime Minister David Cameron talked about 5G’s forthcoming introduction during his keynote speech at the CeBIT technology expo.

The shift to 5G will be crucial to maintain London’s growing reputation as the tech capital of Europe, according to Boris Johnson, and it could earn the title of being the world’s first major 5G network. However, details are slim at this point, but the mayor has confirmed the University of Surrey will be collaborating on the project.

If you’re wondering why it’s not Vodafone, EE, or another mobile network, it’s because the university is home to the UK’s 5G Innovation Center; plus 5G is still a long way off from becoming reality. Networks are more concerned about strengthening their new 4G systems (and even 3G, in some cases), and are unlikely to address 5G until its specifications are determined by the official regulators. All networks are working closely with the 5G Innovation Centre though, and are assisting with its research.

Cameron’s talk of 5G in March this year was premature, and it’s the same story this time around, so don’t go marking the date in your 10-year diaries just yet. It’s also worth noting the mayor doesn’t state whether the 5G rollout planned for 2020 will be anything more than a widespread test. Previous estimates have put 5G’s UK launch around 2022.

We should be excited about 5G though, as when it does arrive, it will have a considerably larger capacity so more devices could be connected to it, and vastly improved speeds. Just don’t hold your breath.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Andy Boxall
Senior Mobile Writer
Andy is a Senior Writer at Digital Trends, where he concentrates on mobile technology, a subject he has written about for…
You can now get unlimited 5G for just $20 a month — with a twist
Helium Mobile $20/month plan banner showing a happy woman against a pink background.

Nova Labs, the company that pioneered the “people-powered” Helium Network, has just announced a wallet-friendly new plan under its Helium Mobile brand that offers unlimited data, talk, and text for only $20 a month.

The no-contract plan provides nationwide 5G access primarily through its own Helium Mobile Network that’s backed up by “the nation’s largest 5G network” — T-Mobile. This allows the carrier to provide full 5G coverage at much more affordable prices than traditional carriers and Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs).

Read more
This new MediaTek chip is about to bring 5G to a lot more devices
MediaTek M60 5G RedCap Modem.

One of the biggest promises of 5G technology isn’t merely faster performance but rather the ability to power a far more connected world — a global network where every device can get online from just about anywhere.

That’s the vision behind MediaTek’s new M60 5G modem and T300 chip, which aim to be small and efficient enough to bring 5G to wearables, internet-of-things (IoT) devices, and other electronics that benefit from reliable internet connectivity but don’t require the massive speed and bandwidth of modern laptops and smartphones.
Reduced capability for greater efficiency

Read more
Have an Android phone? You can get unlimited 5G service for free
A person holding the Google Pixel 8 showing the screen.

One of the great things about eSIM technology is how easy it is to get a new line up and running on a compatible smartphone. Gone are the days when you needed to find a carrier store or wait for a new physical SIM card to arrive in the mail. Now, you can go through the entire process from the comfort of your own home and be up and running with a new phone plan in under five minutes.

This is especially great when dealing with prepaid carriers, and one such company that’s been leaning heavily into eSIM technology is Visible. It’s embraced eSIM not just to make it easy for folks to sign up, but also to let prospective customers take the service for a spin before committing to it.

Read more