WITH Apple unveiling its first 5G iPhone this week, plenty of people are looking for the cheapest way to access the next-gen mobile network.
Fortunately, most of the major operators now offer 5G contracts – though they’re often pretty pricey.
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5G – What do you need?
To access 5G, you’ll first need a 5G compatible phone.
All of the major mobile makers – including Samsung, Huawei, Google and now Apple – sell 5G handsets. Their names almost always contain “5G”.
On top of a 5G-compatible phone, you’ll also need to be on a 5G contract from whatever mobile operator you use.
All of the big guns in this department offer SIM-only 5G contracts now, though coverage is limited to certain cities – more on that later.
UK operators with 5G SIM deals include Vodafone, EE, Three, O2 and Sky mobile.
Best 5G deals in the UK
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So you’ve got yourself a 5G mobile, and need to connect it to a 5G network.
Each phone carrier offers SIM-only deals that let you connect to their 5G towers – though they’re only available in certain cities and towns.
To find out whether you can access 5G in your area, we’ve put together a handy guide here.
Once you’re happy you can use 5G, take a look at some of the SIM-only deals below and pick whichever one takes your fancy.
- Three SIM Only plan with 1GB data, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £5 a month for 12 months – Buy Now
- O2 SIM Only plan with 8GBdata, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £8 a month for 12 months – Buy Now
- Sky Mobile SIM Only plan with 10GBdata, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £10 a month for 12 months – Buy Now
- GiffGaff SIM Only plan with 9GBdata, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £10 a month, cancel anytime (launches October 20) – Buy Now
- Three SIM Only plan with 30GB data, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £12 a month for 12 months – Buy Now
- Vodafone SIM Only plan with 5GB data, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £16 a month for 12 months – Buy Now
- EE SIM Only plan with 100GB data, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £20 a month for 24 months – Buy Now
- Vodafone SIM Only plan with Unlimited data, Unlimited minutes and Unlimited texts for £33 a month for 12 months – Buy Now
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What is 5G?
Just like 4G (and 3G before that), 5G is simply a new generation of mobile internet.
Phone networks have tweaked the technology to deliver faster speeds – and have dubbed it the “5th generation”, or 5G.
In the UK, 5G speeds are already coming in at around 10 times the average 4G speeds.
And loads of phone makers have produced 5G-ready handsets, including Samsung, Huawei, OnePlus and now even Apple too.
Is 5G available in your part of the UK?
READY to upgrade to super-fast 5G internet? You can easily check if you’ve got a 5G mast in your area.
Firstly, it’s important to remember that 5G is completely safe, and can’t give you cancer or coronavirus.
Scientists have also debunked claims of “deadly 5G radiation”, so enjoy your speedy internet in peace.
EE
EE has rolled out 5G in 112 cities and large towns across the UK.
However, it won’t be available in every single part of those towns and cities.
You can find out if EE’s 5G is in your area here.
Three
Three claims to be building the UK’s “fastest 5G network”.
And Three is automatically upgrading 4G customers to 5G internet free of charge.
You can check for Three’s 5G coverage in your area here.
O2
O2 has sent 5G live in areas within 30 towns and cities.
And the network has pledged to reach a total of 50 locations by summer 2020.
You can check for coverage in your area here.
Vodafone
Vodafone is offering 5G internet in 41 locations across the UK.
And it says you can also access 5G in 70 locations across Germany, Spain, Italy and Ireland to boot.
You can check for Vodafone 5G network coverage here. Just make sure to hit the “5G” tab on the side of the map.
Can 5G radiation cause harm?
Online conspiracy theorists are claiming that 5G can cause harm.
Early theories suggested 5G could lead to cancer – and now crackpots have linked it to coronavirus too.
But it’s simply impossible for 5G to cause any of these problems.
Radiation damages cells by breaking them apart, but 5G microwaves simply lack the power to do this.
5G is a low-frequency radiation, far below infrared and visible light.
In fact, it’s essential that 5G is low-frequency, because higher frequencies are less useful at delivering mobile signals over large areas.
We know that this level of radiation is safe, because otherwise the visible light from our televisions would have killed us a long time ago.
Even very powerful low-frequency radiation won’t hurt you. For instance, microwaves can be used in ovens to provide a heating effect – but phone signals are far less powerful than that.
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Are there dangers and should I worry about 5G towers near me?
According to decades of scientific research, there is no reason why 5G should cause any harm.
This type of radiation (and more powerful radiation) is already widely used, and experienced commonly in our daily lives.
Perhaps the biggest danger related to 5G is the spate of arson attacks on 5G masts.
These fires cost money, put lives at risk, and damage vital network infrastructure that keeps people connected.
So rest easy: 5G is safe and will mean you can download your favourite TV shows and movies faster than ever.
All prices were correct at the time of writing, but may have since changed. Always do your own research before making any purchase.
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This post first appeared on Thesun.co.uk
