Does SMARTY Have 5G? – What Can We Expect from SMARTY’s 5G?

As we stated above, SMARTY is using Three as its network provider for 3G & 4G services and the carrier will also be using Three for it’s 5G Coverage when the time comes. According to various tests performed by independent and objective testing bodies such as OOKLA, umlaut and Open Signal, Three and SMARTY have identical network coverage and data speeds, meaning Three doesn’t enforce any speed or coverage restrictions on the MVNO. We have no reason to believe 5G will change this dynamic, and on top of that Three also has the most 5G spectrum in the UK, so have the capacity to offer the best & fastest 5G network.

Three’s 5G network is live and available in 193 cities and towns across the country. Three has the most locations covered in the UK. The carrier is ahead of EE, O2 and Vodafone when it comes to number of locations covered. However, Three behind EE and O2 in terms of 5G coverage per location. The operator’s 5G is available to all customers, you get to enjoy all the benefits of 5G, even if you’re on Three’s pay as you go service. Needless to say, you’ll have to have a 5G ready device to enjoy Three’s superfast 5G speeds.

EE’s 5G coverage is available in 125 locations in the UK and the network is improving their 5G service at a faster pace. Plus their coverage is also wider in each location vs. their competitors. You can read our EE Review to learn more. EE also has the most active 5G users at the moment, with Three ranking second in this regard.

You may also want to check out our network comparisons, if you’re unsure or want to learn how each of the major networks compare.

• Three vs EE
• Three vs O2
• Three vs Vodafone
• Three vs SMARTY

As always, Half Cooked would like to remind you to use each network’s coverage map and check the areas you visit frequently before grabbing a SIM deal from a mobile network.

SMARTY 5G Data Speeds

We expect SMARTY to offer the same superfast 5G data speeds Three customers enjoy. These two carriers offer identical coverage and data speeds on both 3G & 4G, and when it comes to 5G, the other networks in the UK also allow their MVNOs to provide identical 5G download speeds.

At the time of writing, Three is the fastest 5G network provider in the UK. OOKLA’s October 2020 speed test results show that Three’s average 5G download speed is at 201Mbps. This is incredibly fast and in fact, it’s much faster than most fixed broadband services. Depending on your location, you may also be eligible for a Three 5G Home Broadband deal, it’s worth checking out as you can get faster speeds than your fixed line broadband service at a reduced cost.

SMARTY itself wasn’t tested since the network’s 5G is only available to selected customers for trials. However, sharing the same network with Three, the test results would be identical. This means, if SMARTY’s 5G launches some time soon, they will also offer the fastest 5G download speeds at competitive prices.

If you’re happy with your SMARTY coverage, but want to experience 5G download speeds, you can switch to Three’s monthly rolling SIM only plans or use their PAYG bundles for the time being. Unfortunately, there’s no specific date set in stone for when 5G is coming to SMARTY.

Luckily, 5G is becoming more and more popular and all four major networks offer some great 5G SIM Only plans already. You also have other options like VOXI, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile and BT Mobile offering 5G data speeds to their customers.

EE

EE has the most 5G coverage per location among the big four networks and their 5G service is live in 125 cities and towns. On top of that they have the most 5G customers. However, we believe this translates to slower 5G data speeds, especially during peak periods. EE’s average 5G download speed is around 134Mbps, the slowest in the UK.

5G is also only available on selected plans and can’t be added to your plan later on, unlike Sky Mobile. While they have the slowest 5G data speeds, 134Mbps is still very fast and according to tests performed by OOKLA, EE’s 5G is more stable than Three’s.

O2

Just like Three, O2 offers 5G at no extra cost and many other benefits like free Disney +, Wi-Fi Calling, 4G Calling and O2 Priority are bundled in with these deals. O2’s 5G is live in 150 cities and towns, and their average 5G download speed is around 177Mbps. This means O2 has the most UK 5G coverage (alongside with Three) and it’s the second fastest 5G network at the moment.

The network is also a great option, if you want to get a 5G ready device. They allow you to customise your own contract and split your airtime plan and device plan.

You might also want to check O2’s refurbished phone store too. You can read our O2 Review to learn more about the network’s 4G coverage, plans and features.