Quick Answer: From 13th May 2026, EE has confirmed to partners that 5G+ is now inclusive on all Small Business Full Works, All Rounder, and Essentials plans for Business Mobile customers. According to EE, 5G+ currently reaches more than 50 million people in the UK, can deliver up to 20% longer battery life than standard 5G, and is designed to improve speed and reliability in busy places. It is auto-included on new connections and upgrades from 13th May 2026 – provided you have a compatible device, an R15 Future Mobile SIM activated after September 2021 or an eSIM, and are taking a new connection or upgrade on or after that date.
Last updated: 14 May 2026. Based on EE’s partner-facing 5G+ SMB Excalibur Update, issued 13 May 2026.
What Is EE 5G+?
5G+ is the next generation of EE’s 5G network – faster, more reliable, and engineered to perform better than standard 5G in the conditions where business users most often experience degraded performance.
Key facts
(source: EE partner-facing 5G+ SMB Excalibur Update, 13 May 2026)
|
Feature |
Detail |
|
Current UK reach |
50 million+ people |
|
Nationwide target |
99% of the UK population by end of March 2030 |
|
Battery life improvement |
Up to 20% versus standard 5G (according to EE) |
|
Latency |
Significantly lower than standard 5G |
|
Call quality |
Sharper and more reliable |
|
Security |
Enhanced versus standard 5G |
|
AI processing |
Faster on-device AI performance |
The most significant practical difference for business users is performance in busy locations. In town centres, transport hubs, conference venues, and dense city offices – anywhere many devices are competing for the same network resource – standard 5G can slow down noticeably. 5G+ is built to handle that congestion and maintain consistent speeds where standard 5G would typically degrade.
Which EE Business Plans Include 5G+?
As of 13 May 2026, EE has confirmed to partners that 5G+ is included as standard across all EE Small Business plan tiers: Full Works, All Rounder, and Essentials. Previously, enhanced 5G features like Network Boost and 5G Standalone were limited to the upper two tiers. 5G+ is different – it is now available at every level, at no additional cost.
The table below shows the full plan comparison, with the 5G+ row reflecting EE’s partner-facing 5G+ SMB Excalibur Update dated 13 May 2026. Other features are sourced from the EE Price Guide for Small Business (April 2026).
|
Feature |
Essentials |
All Rounder |
Full Works |
|
Data options |
5GB to Unlimited |
10GB to Unlimited |
Unlimited only |
|
Minutes & texts |
Unlimited (UK & ROI) |
Unlimited (UK & ROI) |
Unlimited (UK & ROI) |
|
Network Boost |
Unlimited plans only |
Unlimited plans only |
All plans |
|
⚡ 5G+ (from May 2026) |
Now included |
Now included |
Now included |
|
EU/EEA roaming included |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Rest of World Zone 1 roaming |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Upgrade Anytime |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Extended Warranty |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Stay Connected Data (at cap) |
Yes – 0.5Mbps |
Yes – 0.5Mbps |
N/A (unlimited only) |
5G+ inclusion across all tiers is based on EE’s partner-facing 5G+ SMB Excalibur Update dated 13 May 2026. Other features are sourced from the EE Price Guide for Small Business, April 2026. Check our latest EE business mobile deals or speak to us for current pricing.
The key takeaway from the table: 5G+ is now the only enhanced 5G feature available at every plan level. Network Boost – which prioritises your data connection in busy or crowded locations – remains limited to Unlimited plans on Essentials and All Rounder, and is included across all Full Works plans. For businesses choosing between tiers, that distinction is worth factoring in alongside the roaming differences.
Who Gets 5G+ and When?
New connections and upgrades
5G+ is auto-included. There is nothing to activate. Three requirements apply:
- A new connection or upgrade on or after 13th May 2026. 5G+ is available on connections and upgrades taken from this date onwards.
- A compatible device. Not every 5G handset supports 5G+. Confirm compatibility before committing to a specific model on upgrade.
- An R15 Future Mobile SIM activated after September 2021, or an eSIM. Most EE business customers who have connected or upgraded in the past four years will already meet this requirement.
Mid-contract (in-term) customers
Customers who cannot yet upgrade will not automatically receive 5G+. EE has indicated it is planning a summer 2026 add-on option for in-term customers who cannot upgrade, though the detail is still to be confirmed. SIM-only customers are excluded from that planned add-on.
SIM-only customers
At the time of writing, EE has not confirmed a 5G+ route for existing SIM-only customers through the planned in-term add-on.
What Does 5G+ Mean in Practice for Business?
For mobile-heavy teams in busy locations
Field workers, account managers, and anyone who works regularly from city centres, client sites, or events will see the most immediate benefit. 5G+ is specifically engineered for high-congestion environments – meaning more reliable data speeds and video call performance when everyone around you is on the same network.
For businesses using AI tools on mobile
EE’s 5G+ update cites quicker AI processing as a direct benefit. As business applications – from transcription and translation to scheduling and CRM – increasingly run on mobile, network-level processing speed has a measurable impact on how those tools perform day-to-day.
For businesses approaching renewal
If your contracts are coming up, 5G+ is now included at every plan level. If your fleet is running SIMs activated before September 2021, building in a SIM swap at renewal is worth factoring into the process – it is the step that unlocks 5G+ eligibility.
EE 5G+ Coverage
According to EE’s 5G+ SMB Excalibur Update (13 May 2026):
- Current reach: 50 million+ people across the UK
- Nationwide target: 99% of the UK population by end of March 2030
- Performance advantage: Strongest in high-density urban environments; rural coverage continues to expand
Coverage is not yet universal. If your team is spread across multiple sites – or includes rural locations – it is worth running a network coverage check before treating 5G+ as a guaranteed capability across your whole fleet.
We can run a coverage comparison across EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three against your specific business locations. Get a free business mobile review if you want to check whether EE 5G+ is the right fit for your renewal.
FAQs
It is the next step beyond standard 5G - faster, with lower latency, better battery life (up to 20% improvement according to EE), and designed to maintain performance in congested locations like city centres and transport hubs.
All four Small Business plan tiers from 13th May 2026: Full Works, All Rounder, Essentials, and No Frills.
No. It is included as standard on all four EE Small Business plan tiers for new connections and upgrades from 13th May 2026.
A compatible device, and either an R15 Future Mobile SIM activated after September 2021 or an eSIM.
EE has indicated it is exploring a summer 2026 add-on for in-term customers, but nothing has been confirmed. SIM-only customers are excluded from any such add-on. Check back once further details are announced.
More than 50 million people in the UK, according to EE, with a target of nationwide coverage by 2030.
Standard 5G outperforms 4G in most conditions. 5G+ goes further - with significantly lower latency, up to 20% better battery life, enhanced security, sharper call quality, and materially better performance in congested environments (all figures according to EE Business, May 2026).
If your business is approaching renewal or you want to check whether your current fleet qualifies for 5G+, BusinessMobiles.com can review your account and compare options across EE, O2, Vodafone, and Three.
- Get a free quote based on your current bill and we will do the groundwork for you
- Talk to a specialist if you want to talk through your options directly
- Build an example plan using our plan builder to get a feel for what works for your business









