Reza Rahnama, managing director of mobile networks at BT Group, told RCR Wireless News that the rapid growth in ‘5G+’ usage is already influencing how U.K. carrier EE prioritizes network investment and optimization
In sum – what to know:
Usage surge – Rapid growth in ‘5G+’ traffic is driving changes in how EE prioritizes capacity upgrades and spectrum allocation.
Efficiency focus – Technologies like carrier aggregation and ARC are improving performance without requiring new sites.
Network scaling – Expansion beyond 50 million people reflects both rising demand and continued investment in coverage and capacity.
Rising demand for advanced 5G services is pushing operators to rethink how networks are managed, particularly around capacity and spectrum use. At U.K. telco EE—the mobile division of BT Group—this shift is becoming increasingly visible as the company expands its ‘5G+’ network, the branding it uses for its 5G Standalone (SA) service.
According to Reza Rahnama, managing director of mobile networks at BT Group, the rapid growth in ‘5G+’ usage is already influencing how the operator prioritizes network investment and optimization.
“Monitoring how customers use our network is central to how we plan and optimise it, and the growth of ‘5G+’ is no exception. We continuously analyze usage patterns to understand where demand is increasing fastest – whether that’s at certain times of day, in specific locations, or driven by new services. That insight directly informs how we prioritize capacity upgrades and make the best use of available spectrum, so we can stay ahead of demand and maintain a consistent experience for customers as ‘5G+’ usage grows.” the executive told RCR Wireless News.
The comments come as EE said its ‘5G+’ network now covers more than 50 million people across over 600 towns and cities, exceeding earlier rollout targets. The operator has seen a sharp rise in usage, with monthly ‘5G+’ traffic increasing by more than 50% over the past six months. EE said it expects its ‘5G+’ offering to reach 99% of the population by the end of March 2030.
EE has reallocated its 2.1GHz spectrum across more than 4,000 mobile sites to deliver improved network capacity, stronger indoor coverage, and improved upload speeds for customers. EE said it plans to upgrade 5,000 more mobile sites in this way in the next few months.
EE is also expanding the use of Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC), which allows nearby sites to dynamically share capacity. The operator said the technology can improve performance by around 20% in dense environments without requiring additional infrastructure.
“While expanding coverage remains important, many of the real-world gains customers notice come from enhancing performance and reliability where people already rely on the network most. Technologies like carrier aggregation and ARC help us make better use of existing spectrum, especially in busy locations and at peak times. That translates into more consistent speeds, more reliable connections, and a smoother experience when customers need it most – whether that’s on their daily commute, while attending events, or when using data-heavy services in crowded areas,” Rahnama said.
“Being able to boost capacity quickly and efficiently is critical as demand continues to grow. Technologies like ARC allow us to improve performance without always needing to build new macro sites, helping us target upgrades where they’re needed most and deliver benefits to customers faster. That efficiency is especially important given the planning challenges involved in rolling out new infrastructure. While important reforms to the planning system – consulted on by the U.K. Government – still need to be progressed, solutions like ARC and small cells will continue to play a vital role in helping us scale capacity in the most pressing areas.”
Following the launch of ARC in Manchester and Edinburgh last year, the technology is now also live on EE’s ‘5G+’ network in London. By the end of May 2026, it will be available in more of the U.K.’s busiest cities including Belfast, Cardiff, Glasgow, Leeds, Liverpool, Newcastle, and Sheffield, EE said.
