UK mobile carrier EE has announced the launch of its Advanced RAN Coordination (ARC) technology, while the telco also revealed plans to extend its 5G Standalone (5G SA) footprint to 17 more locations by the end of the year.

EE claims to be the first carrier in the world to deploy ARC in its distributed RAN network, which means that nearby mobile sites can pair remotely and share capacity.

The company has paired with Swedish vendor Ericsson to deploy the technology, which was initially trialed in Bristol.

According to EE, this can boost performance without the need for additional infrastructure, especially in busy locations such as train stations, high streets, and city centers.

EE notes that ARC is already live in Manchester and Edinburgh, and will be rolled out to London, Leeds, Glasgow, Liverpool, Belfast, Cardiff, Newcastle, Sheffield, and Sunderland next year.

The carrier claims that its ARC upgrades can deliver 20 percent faster download speeds, smooth video streaming, and more reliable connectivity during peak times.

On top of the carrier's ARC launch, EE has also announced that it will expand its 5G SA network by the end of the year.

The 17 new locations are: Basildon, Bolton, Brighton & Hove, Colchester, Gloucester, Lincoln, Maidstone, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northampton, Oxford, Plymouth, Poole, Portsmouth, Reading, Southampton, Southend-on-Sea, and Telford.

EE said it aims to make its 5G SA network available to more than 41 million people nationwide by spring 2026.

The carrier launched its 5G SA network in September, initially across 15 cities before it expanded to more locations a month later. By March of this year, this had increased to 50 locations.

EE became the third carrier in the country to launch 5G SA following Vodafone and Virgin Media O2.

However, unlike Vodafone and Virgin Media O2, EE is charging a premium for its 5G SA service.