Vodafone Turns on Stand-Alone 5G in 4 U.K. Markets

Vodafone launched 5G stand-alone service in parts of the U.K. Friday, including London, Manchester, Glasgow and Cardiff, the first company to do so there, it said. Initial 5G Ultra devices are the Samsung Galaxy S21 and S22 “with more to follow in July,” Vodafone said. “Whereas the existing 5G service offered by telecoms companies relies partly on 4G technology (which is why it is known as 5G Non-standalone), Vodafone’s 5G Standalone has every element fully upgraded and future-proofed,” the company said: “Customers will also be able to benefit … at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships. Masts in the Wimbledon area have been upgraded to deliver the new service, including ones which provide coverage to the courts and the surrounding outdoor fan zones.”