5G in Kent: Maidstone, Chatham and Gillingham to get EE's top speeds
Published: 12:22, 28 November 2019
Updated: 12:44, 28 November 2019
Mobile network EE is rolling out its super-fast 5G services to three towns in the county - the first to receive the high-speed connection.
The service is now live across Chatham, Gillingham and Maidstone.
They will be among the first towns and cities across the UK to benefit from the network's 5G service.
The faster alternative to the more widely available 4G went live in May when it was switched on in six cities - including London.
EE, which is part of BT, has looked to increase its coverage with a staged roll-out elsewhere in the UK.
Users will see download speeds greatly enhanced making them far faster than most home broadband connections.
London users have seen speeds on mobile devices reach up to 1Gbps.
The average download speed was around 149Mbps - which would download a film in 30 seconds.
However, those looking to take advantage need to ensure they have an up-to-date phone capable of processing the 5G capabilities.
Neil Aitken, from the BT Group, said: “It’s great to see Chatham, Gillingham and Maidstone amongst the first locations in the UK to welcome 5G.
"The new technology will enable a faster, more reliable mobile connection for both consumers and businesses in the area and is set to play a pivotal role in our lives.”
'The new technology will enable a faster, more reliable mobile connection for both consumers and businesses in the area and is set to play a pivotal role in our lives.' - Mr Aitken
Adam Bryan, CEO of the South East Local Enterprise Partnership, added: “The arrival of 5G in Kent is fantastic news. Not only will it allow businesses to manage their business operations while on the move, processing payments from customers more efficiently and being more responsive and providing greater flexibility for people to work remotely, boosting productivity across the area.
“I’m really excited for the area as it is one of the first in the UK to benefit from the latest mobile network technology.”
Rural areas in the county have previously called for 4G services to be boosted before 5G arrives.
Read more: For the latest business news for Kent
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Chris Britcher