United Kingdom 50GB 30 days
EE / 3
- Data
- 50GB
- Validity
- 30 days
- Hotspot
- Yes
- Technology
- 3G / 4G / 5G
- 5G ready
- Hotspot
- Top-up ready
Validity starts on first connection at the destination
from$26.90$25.55
EE and travel eSIM in United Kingdom
EE is one of the networks your eSIM may use in United Kingdom. Here is who actually decides which network you get, and what to do with that.
Author: Bob Kanokphon Thongdee · Co-founderReviewed by: Porsch Kunnipat SiramanakulPublished: October 11, 2026Last updated: October 11, 2026
Quick answer
- 33 of the 100 United Kingdom plans we sell name EE as a reachable network, at 5G.
- EE runs LTE on B1, B3, B7, B20 and 5G on n78; your phone needs at least one of them.
- Travel plans connect by roaming, so no plan can promise one specific network.
EE in brief
EE is part of BT Group's BT Consumer division and began in 2010 as a joint venture of T-Mobile UK and Orange UK; it finished switching off 3G in February 2024.
We are not a reseller for this operator and we have not run our own field speed tests. The band and network details below come from the sources listed at the end of the page.
EE's bands and technology
| Item | EE |
|---|---|
| LTE (4G) | B1, B3, B7, B20 |
| 5G NR | n78 |
| 5G launched | Live |
| 3G | Shut down (2024) |
Checked against the sources on 2026-10-11. Only the bands a source confirmed are listed; the network may run others too.
An eSIM can only use EE if your phone supports at least one band in this table. Before you fly, open your model's spec page on the maker's site and compare its LTE and 5G band lists.
EE's coverage map
EE publishes its own coverage map. Look up the street or district you will stay in rather than the country as a whole, because coverage in town and out of town differs a great deal. The map shows EE's own network; a roaming plan may not get every technology it shows.
Who licenses EE
Mobile networks in United Kingdom are licensed, and their spectrum assigned, by the Office of Communications (Ofcom). The bands above are the ones it allocates. A problem with the local network's own service goes to the operator first; a problem with your eSIM plan comes to us.
The plans on our shelf that name EE
From the supplier record behind each package, 33 of the 100 plans we currently sell for United Kingdom declare EE as a network the profile can reach, at 5G. The figure comes from the same catalogue that prices the plan pages, and it moves when the supplier revises the record.
A plan naming EE means the network sits in the list the profile may choose from. It does not mean your handset will stay on it. The priority order is the supplier's, and the signal where you stand decides.
EE beside the other networks in United Kingdom
| Network | LTE bands | 5G bands |
|---|---|---|
| EE | B1, B3, B7, B20 | n78 |
| O2 | B1, B3, B8, B20, B40 | n78 |
| Three UK | B1, B3, B20, B32 | n78 |
| Vodafone UK | B1, B3, B7, B8, B20, B32, B38 | n78 |
A band shared across networks is one a single phone can use on all of them.
Why plans do not name a fixed network
Nearly every travel eSIM is a roaming product: the profile picks a network by an order the supplier sets, not by the buyer. If EE is weak where you are, try selecting O2 or Three UK or Vodafone UK manually in the network settings, and keep data roaming on for the eSIM profile.
FAQ
Will my eSIM definitely connect to EE?+
33 of our plans name EE as reachable, but that is not a guarantee. Travel plans run over roaming agreements, so the network depends on the supplier behind the plan, your device and where you are.
Which bands does my phone need for EE?+
At least one of these, LTE: B1, B3, B7, B20; 5G: n78. Your phone's band list is on the maker's spec page for your model, under "Cellular" or "Network".
Does EE run 5G, and will my plan get it?+
Yes. EE has run commercial 5G, on n78. A travel plan only gets it when the plan permits 5G, your phone supports one of those bands, and you are inside 5G coverage. Miss any one and you fall back to 4G.
How do I see which network I am on?+
Check the carrier name at the top of the screen, or open the mobile-network settings and look at the operator list. If signal is poor, try selecting a network manually instead of automatic, but only one your plan actually supports.
Sources
- EE mobile coverage checker — EE, October 11, 2026
- EE homepage — EE, October 11, 2026
- Wikipedia: EE Limited — Wikipedia, October 11, 2026
- kenstechtips: UK network frequency bands — Ken's Tech Tips, October 11, 2026
- Ofcom: UK cellular operators spectrum licences (search result) — Ofcom, October 11, 2026
About the author
Bob Kanokphon Thongdee
- Co-founder of eSIMonline.asia
- More than 7 years in online marketing
- Founder of Cojourney Visa and Cojourney Travel
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