Tesco Mobile has confirmed that it will be switching on its 5G network in early 2020, making it potentially the next UK network to launch a super-fast mobile service.
Tesco Mobile is an MVNO (mobile virtual network operator), meaning it uses third-party infrastructure (in this case, O2 5G), which means that we can expect its network to cover the same areas. Tesco has already said that at launch it will bring 5G to Belfast, Blackpool, Bournemouth, Bristol, Cardiff, Coventry, Derby, Edinburgh, Eton, Guildford, Leeds, Leicester, Lisburn, London, Norwich, Nottingham, Reading, Slough, Stoke and Windsor.
By summer 2020 Tesco Mobile plans to also offer 5G in Aberdeen, Birkenhead, Birmingham, Bradford, Brighton, Cambridge, Glasgow, Hove, Kingston, Liverpool, Luton, Manchester, Milton Keynes, Newbury, Newcastle, Northampton, Plymouth, Portsmouth, Sheffield, Southampton, Sunderland, Warrington and Wolverhampton.
“Affordable” 5G
Despite using O2’s infrastructure, Tesco’s 5G will be cheaper, after promising that its 5G network will be “affordable”.
On top of this, Tesco Mobile’s 5G service will come with a lot of extras. For example, Tesco Mobile also lets you double your Tesco Clubcard points, and if you have a Family Plan with multiple users you can also get additional bonuses. So if you are a regular Tesco supermarket shopper, this 5G service could be the one for you.
However, it does face a great deal of competition in the UK with O2, EE, Vodafone, BT and Sky all also offering 5G broadband and/or mobile plans. However, if Tesco Mobile’s 5G plans are considerably cheaper, many could be tempted to switch from their existing provider when they make the upgrade to a 5G service.
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