EE is launching 5G mobile broadband plans

EE has announced the UK’s first 5G mobile broadband packages. Using the HTC 5G Hub, EE customers can create their own 5G Wi-Fi hotspot to serve as an on-the-move alternative to home broadband – that means speedy streaming and nonexistent loading times for any 5G ready devices in the vicinity.

The mobile service provider has already launched its first 5G services in four major UK cities – London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester – and will be switching the network on in Glasgow, Newcastle, Liverpool, Leeds, Hull, Sheffield, Nottingham, Leicester, Coventry and Bristol as 2019 progresses.

EE is working alongside HTC to provide customers with a reliable 5G mobile broadband experience. The HTC 5G Hub is the device that’s making this possible: with a 5in capacitive HD touchscreen and a Qualcomm Snapdragon 855 inside, this portable router will support up to 20 devices simultaneously, and it’s gunning for your home broadband.

The HTC 5G Hub also features voice control and a remote, so you can theoretically use it as a media centre, a little like the Amazon Echo Show or Google Nest Hub. Plug it into a compatible monitor using a DisplayPort cable and you’ll be able to make better use of that Snapdragon 855 for streaming and gaming.

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Unfortunately, there’s a bit of a catch. To purchase one of these pocket-sized HTC 5G Hubs, you’ll need to pay an upfront fee of £100, followed by a monthly fee of £50 or £100 depending on whether you’d like a 50GB or 100GB data allowance. These contracts both last 24 months, which means you could spend up to £2,500 over 2 years for the privilege of being able to set up an EE 5G Wi-Fi hotspot on the go. Yikes.