UK mobile operator EE has confirmed that 125 network upgrades are being installed on temporary 4G and 5G masts across the country this summer.

EE stated that the upgrades are designed to complement the mobile coverage provided by existing permanent sites.

The upgrades come as the UK festival season kicks off, with the temporary sites installed to provide additional network capacity.

Greg McCall, chief networks officer at BT Group, said: “For many people, the summer is all about spending time making memories with family and friends. By expanding our network capacity with these temporary 4G and 5G sites, we are helping enhance the live event experience for our customers."

Temporary mobile sites are not a new thing and are often installed in locations where big events are taking place, such as music festivals, motorsport events, and other local shows.

EE noted that its temporary network upgrades at this year's Cheltenham Festival saw customers use more than 52 percent more mobile data compared to four years earlier.

Earlier this month, the operator announced 411 permanent small cell installations had been installed across the country. The company now has 600 street-level mobile sites, including in cities such as Birmingham, Brighton, and Sheffield. Small cells take advantage of existing street assets, such as BT telephone boxes and digital Street Hubs, lamp posts, and CCTV columns to help improve mobile coverage in areas where it may be impractical to build larger sites.

DCD has contacted EE for more information on the temporary upgrades.