Currently, I am sitting in my home office with only one bar of 4G reception on my phone. If I move to a different room, the bars might increase to two.
I have been questioning why I still don’t have 5G reception at home, especially considering it’s almost the end of 2024 and 5G was launched in the U.K. back in mid-2019. Curious about the reasons behind this, I decided to delve deeper into the issue. What I uncovered was a mix of both expected and unexpected factors contributing to the absence of 5G in my vicinity.
Location, Location, Location
Despite living in a seemingly rural area in southeastern U.K., I am only 30 minutes away from a major international airport and 30 miles from London. My neighbors live next door, not miles away down a deserted road. Even the limited 4G reception is inadequate given the time and location. However, there is some improvement in connectivity when I drive towards the airport and nearby towns, where I occasionally stumble upon patches of 5G signal, although 4G remains the predominant connection indoors and outdoors.
My network provider is EE, which spearheaded 5G in the U.K. in 2019. Having tested EE’s 5G on a OnePlus 7 Pro 5G back in June that year, I find it perplexing to still be devoid of 5G at home after five years. I initially pondered if the lack of 5G was due to local disapproval towards erecting more phone masts, or simply a lack of demand in the sparsely populated surrounding areas. To gain insight, I reached out to EE.
The 5G Dilemma
“The U.K. has made significant strides in mobile networks,” Alex Jackman, head of network communications at BT Group, informed me. “The foundation laid by the robust 4G network, covering 90% of the U.K., has undoubtedly bolstered the deployment of 5G, enhancing speed and reducing latency. The recent launch of 5G Standalone (SA) in September promises to revolutionize connectivity and innovation.”
Jackman detailed the challenges networks faced during the evolution of 5G over the years. While some obstacles were expected, others came as a surprise.
“The launch of 5G in 2019 was impacted by the U.K. government’s shifting stance on Huawei equipment,” Jackman explained. “Initially, there were no restrictions on using Huawei in the core network, but subsequently, this decision was overturned around early 2020.”
This alteration coincided with Huawei being placed on the Entity List by the U.S. government, prompting the U.K. to revise its policies on network security.
“This had a major impact, resulting in a potential cost of 500 million British pounds…”
“The repercussions of this decision were significant,” Jackman elaborated. “We estimated a potential cost of 500 million British pounds to meet the government’s directives, redirecting funds towards replacing Huawei with Ericsson and Nokia equipment, rather than transitioning from Huawei 4G to 5G.”
Jackman emphasized the tangible effects of this decision on the timely deployment of 5G, acknowledging the financial strain it imposed on network providers.
Unforeseen Challenges of 2020
While the Huawei situation was somewhat anticipated, the unforeseen challenge that followed in 2020 caught many off guard. Jackman shed light on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the 5G rollout.
“The outbreak of COVID-19 introduced numerous logistical hurdles, affecting deployment protocols during lockdowns,” Jackman stated. “Access to sites, restrictions on engineer numbers, and the health-related constraints further complicated matters, resulting in delays that extended the deployment timeline. Additionally, the bizarre theory linking 5G to COVID-19 led to over a hundred sites being vandalized across networks, posing threats to engineers and impeding progress.”
“Over a hundred sites across all networks were set on fire.”
The lingering repercussions of these incidents persist, impeding the smooth implementation of 5G in certain areas due to ongoing resistance fueled by unfounded conspiracy theories. The financial and logistical strains induced by the Huawei controversy and the pandemic have significantly slowed down the nationwide rollout of 5G.
Local Impacts and Challenges
Taking a closer look at the local implications, Jackman pointed out that upgrading to 5G entails installing larger and heavier equipment, necessitating modifications to existing infrastructure. This process triggers local planning permission requirements, resulting in bureaucratic delays. Issues regarding mast ownership and land rights further complicate the upgrade process, prolonging the introduction of 5G connectivity at a local level.
In my area and potentially others, the nearest masts operate on the 1800MHz spectrum, more suitable for outdoor use. EE’s strategy includes enhancing these masts with 800MHz capacity to improve indoor coverage. However, this upgrade falls short of delivering 5G connectivity. Additionally, while I utilize cutting-edge smartphones equipped with the latest technology, many individuals may lack devices capable of harnessing a 5G signal, contributing to the slow adoption of 5G.
Unfavorable Circumstances
Reflecting on my conversation with Jackman, I realized that the timing of the 5G rollout was less than ideal. Faced with unforeseen challenges and financial burdens, networks struggled to meet the demands of implementing 5G. In 2019, the focus was on heralding 5G as the next technology breakthrough, yet the subsequent hurdles and distractions of 2020 diverted attention away from its development and adoption.
With little tangible evidence of its benefits and ongoing setbacks, 5G has grappled with a tarnished reputation, while endeavors to recover and advance with technologies like standalone 5G have been costly and time-consuming.
As for my personal situation, the elusive 5G connection remains out of reach in 2024, underscoring the challenges faced by many individuals still reliant on 4G networks.
