EE eSIM — coverage, plans & network
United Kingdom
Key highlights
- Founded 1 April 2010 as Everything Everywhere (T-Mobile UK + Orange UK merger)
- Acquired by BT Group in January 2016 for around £12.5 billion
- Launched the UK’s first 4G network on 30 October 2012
- Launched the UK’s first 5G network in May 2019
- Completed shutdown of its 3G network in February 2024
- Reported 21.2 million mobile customers as of September 2025
About the operator
EE is a British mobile network operator and internet service provider headquartered in London and operated as a brand of BT Consumer, a division of BT Group. The company was established on 1 April 2010 as Everything Everywhere, a 50:50 joint venture between Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom that combined the UK operations of T-Mobile and Orange. It rebranded to EE in 2012 alongside the launch of the United Kingdom’s first 4G network.
BT Group acquired EE in January 2016 for approximately £12.5 billion, and EE has since become the consumer-facing mobile arm of BT. As of September 2025 EE reported 21.2 million mobile customers, placing it among the largest operators in the UK. The company switched off its legacy 3G network during January and February 2024, refarming the spectrum for 4G and 5G services.
- Founded
- 2010
- Headquarters
- United Kingdom
- Group
- BT Group
- Network
- 4G, 5G
- Subscribers
- 21.2M (September 2025)
Network & technology
EE operates 4G across 800, 1800, 2100 and 2600 MHz, and 5G across 700, 1800, 2100, 2600 and 3500 MHz, with around 18,000 cell sites in the UK. RootMetrics named EE the UK’s best overall network in its H2 2025 study (a streak of consecutive wins it has held since 2H 2013), and umlaut Connect rated it the UK’s top-performing network for an eleventh year.
Reputation & market position
EE consistently ranks at or near the top of independent UK network performance studies by RootMetrics and umlaut, while Ofcom data for 2025 show it among the least complained-about mobile providers, though it was the most complained-about broadband provider in Q2 2025.
Rated 4.0/5 — Trustpilot
Pros
- Best-performing UK mobile network in RootMetrics testing (most recent: H2 2025)
- First UK operator to launch both 4G (2012) and 5G (2019)
- Among the lowest mobile-complaint rates in Ofcom’s 2025 rankings
- Backed by BT Group, the UK’s largest fixed-line telecoms operator
Cons
- Services available only in the United Kingdom
- 3G network was retired in February 2024, leaving older 3G-only devices without data
- Topped Ofcom’s broadband complaints table in Q2 2025
Available plans
Countries covered
Get your United Kingdom eSIM from AviaeSIM — instant QR activation, no roaming fees.
How to activate
- 1Choose your destination and a plan on the EE network
- 2Pay and receive your eSIM QR code by email
- 3Scan the QR code in your phone's settings to install it
- 4Turn on data roaming for the eSIM when you arrive
Frequently asked questions
Does EE support eSIM?
Yes. EE supports eSIM on compatible phones: pay-monthly customers can order one online or convert a plastic SIM through the EE app or a store, while pay-as-you-go support has historically been more limited, so check EE's current eSIM policy for your plan type. Visitors to the UK who only need mobile data can instead install a prepaid AviaeSIM travel plan that connects to the EE network.
How do I get an EE eSIM as a tourist in the UK?
Tourists can pick up an EE pay-as-you-go SIM in a UK store without a contract, but eSIM issuance for visitors is less straightforward: signup, top-ups and the EE app are built around UK residents and UK payment cards. A prepaid AviaeSIM travel eSIM is often easier for a short visit: buy it online before you travel, install it via QR code, and use data on the EE network from landing.
Which countries does an AviaeSIM plan on the EE network cover?
EE is a UK-only network, so AviaeSIM plans that use EE work in one destination: the United Kingdom, including England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. You connect to the 4G and 5G network that RootMetrics has repeatedly rated the UK's best. AviaeSIM is an independent travel eSIM provider, not part of EE or BT Group.
EE roaming or a travel eSIM, what should travelers choose?
For inbound visitors, EE roaming is irrelevant: you would be roaming on your own home carrier at its rates, which can be expensive per day or per megabyte. A prepaid AviaeSIM travel plan on the EE network gives a fixed, upfront data allowance instead. EE's own roaming add-ons only matter to EE customers traveling out of the UK.
Useful links
Other operators
Information updated: 2026-05