Mobile operator Vodafone has announced that their 5G Ultra service, which uses 5G Standalone (SA) technology to deliver faster mobile broadband speeds and better performance in other areas, has now been made available to Enterprise and SMB (business) customers in the UK. The service originally launched for consumers over a year ago.
At present most existing 5G networks in the UK are Non-Standalone (NSA) based, which means they’re still partly reliant on older 4G infrastructure. By comparison, 5GSA reflects a pure end-to-end 5G network that can also deliver improvements such as ultra-low latency times (fast), better mobile broadband upload speeds, network slicing capabilities, better support for Internet of Things (IoT) devices, increased reliability and security.
The good news today is that Vodafone has now made 5G Ultra available to business customers too, which they claim will deliver benefits such as up to 25% longer battery life on supporting Smartphones, as well as “increased reliability, capacity, speeds [and] lower latency.” But for now you’re most likely to find 5G SA in the “busy areas” of major cities, with the operator saying that it’s now available in 23 cities and more than 300 locations across the UK.
Device support is another issue, with Vodafone stating that currently only the Samsung Galaxy S21, S22, S23 and S24 ranges, the OPPO Find X3 and X5 ranges, as well as the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold5, are 5G Ultra ready on their network, with more coming soon.
As usual Vodafone doesn’t miss an opportunity to promote their proposed merger with Three UK, which they say could bring 5G Standalone to more than 99% of the UK’s populated areas by 2034. But it’s important to remember that this is just a commitment, which could change, and is not a legally binding obligation.
Nick Gliddon, Business Director, Vodafone UK, said:
“Our customers are telling us they are ready for 5G Standalone. Whether it is to keep employees connected with more reliable services, or to customise their business through next-generation services such as network slicing. 5G Standalone is the doorway to innovation, new revenues, and better connection with employees.
We launched the UK’s first 5G Standalone network in 2023. But to bring the benefits to everyone, we need consolidation – we cannot avoid a digital divide without it. Our proposed merger with Three UK is good for customers, good for competition and good for country. It will deliver much needed scale, better enabling us to deliver the benefits of 5G Ultra to all customers, regardless of where they live.”
Vodafone’s insight team has also surveyed 462 business customers across the UK, of which 24% were Vodafone customers. The research claims to have found that 39% of UK companies are ready to invest in 5G SA today, with 14% making the move within 12 months. Similarly, 93% of respondents agreed that reliable data connections are critical to success in today’s modern world, with 71% saying the same about remote working.
Elsewhere, 86% of customers suggested the rollout of 5G SA is either important or extremely important, with 44% stating lower latency would help business growth, while 83% would slightly or significantly increase 5G investments once advanced capabilities are available. Finally, 46% believe 5G Standalone would offer them a competitive advantage within three years by better enabling innovation.