Mobile phone networks giant Vodafone Group PLC (LON:VOD) is to try out 5G in seven major British cities in the fourth quarter of this year.
The next generation mobile broadband service will go on trial at more than 40 sites in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester.
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The telecoms company also said it is talking to business customers about testing augmented reality and virtual reality technology in factories, hospital and offices.
5G is the next big thing in networking technology for connected devices, holding out the prospect of speeds up to 100 times as fast as 4G and 10 times swifter than broadband to the home.
The higher speed results from the technology operating at a higher frequency than current networks but the range is not so great, which means network operators will have to erect more base stations to ensure decent coverage.
Vodafone said the trials will use the recently released 3.4GHz (gigahertz) spectrum band.
James Rogerson, of 5G-focused web site 5G.co.uk said it would make sense were the trial cities to be among the first locations to get the full 5G service once Vodafone launches it commercially.
Earlier this month, rival mobile networks operator EE, which is now owned by BT Group plc, said it would begin 5G trials in East London in October, so it is probably a small step ahead of Vodafone in terms of trials of the technology. There does not seem to be any great rush, at present, as the first 5G-capable phones and devices probably won't be on the market until 2020.
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Vodafone UK chief executive Nick Jeffery said Vodafone wants to make 5G and new fibre broadband services available to consumers and businesses throughout the UK.
“We will also be bringing ultra-fast 4G to several hundred sites in hard to reach rural areas this year, building on our position as the network that offers the best voice coverage in the UK,” he added.
Shares in Vodafone were up 1.1% at 187.82p in afternoon trading.