Vodafone Idea and EE Expand 5G Footprint with Major Launches and Upgrades

Lucknow and UK cities gain 5G standalone services as operators accelerate next-generation network deployments.

Vodafone Idea (Vi) launched its 5G services in Lucknow on September 9, 2025, following a rollout in Kolkata days earlier, offering unlimited data on plans from Rs 299 for users with compatible devices. Meanwhile, UK operator EE announced today that it will expand its 5G standalone network to 17 additional towns and cities by the end of December and deploy world-first Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology to boost capacity and performance in busy urban centres.

Nut Graf

The twin announcements mark a significant push by leading carriers to broaden pure end-to-end 5G coverage and enhance network efficiency. Vi’s foray into Uttar Pradesh underscores rising competition in India’s burgeoning 5G market, while EE’s UK upgrades promise faster speeds and lower latency for millions, reinforcing each operator’s commitment to next-generation connectivity.

Vodafone Idea Brings 5G to Lucknow

  • Lucknow joins Kolkata as the second West Bengal city to receive Vi’s 5G service, with Siliguri and Indore among earlier launch locations.
  • Users on 5G-enabled devices can access unlimited high-speed data on plans starting at Rs 299, covering HD streaming, cloud gaming, and real-time collaboration.
  • Sumit Agarwal, Circle Business Head - UP & Uttarakhand, highlighted that Vi’s strategic spectrum acquisitions across 17 priority circles underpin its rapid network rollouts.

EE’s UK 5G Standalone Expansion and ARC Deployment

Subheading: Extending reach to more communities

  • By December 2025, customers in Basildon, Bolton, Brighton & Hove, Colchester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Maidstone, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea and Telford will gain 5G standalone access.
  • The upgrade replaces reliance on 4G infrastructure, unlocking ultra-low latency, network slicing, and improved upload speeds.

Subheading: World-first ARC technology boosts capacity

  • ARC enables nearby cell sites to share spare capacity, delivering up to 20% faster download speeds and more consistent performance during peak demand.
  • Initially activated in Manchester and Edinburgh, ARC will roll out next year across London, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield and Sunderland.
  • Greg McCall, BT Group Chief Networks Officer, said ARC represents a “game-changer” for customer experience on both iOS and Android 5G standalone devices.

Market Impact and Outlook

The simultaneous expansion efforts reflect intensifying global competition to lead the 5G transition. India’s telecom sector, characterised by aggressive pricing and spectrum investments, is set for further network densification ahead of major sporting and cultural events. In the UK, EE’s pioneering ARC rollout and broad 5G standalone coverage are poised to maintain its network leadership, driving enterprise use cases and consumer adoption as device ecosystems mature.