The telecommunications service provider Everything Everywhere (EE) officially launched its 5G service in parts of six major cities in the United Kingdom on Thursday, reports Xinhua News Agency.

Subscribers to EE's 5G service are now able to access high-speed data connections powered by Huawei's networking equipment in London, Cardiff, Edinburg, Belfast, Birmingham, and Manchester.

A 5G sign sits on a display in view of St Paul's Cathedral following a news conference announcing the rollout of BT Group Plc's EE 5G network in London, U.K., on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

Compared to 4G, the transmission speed of 5G networks can reach as high as 1Gbps, about 20 times faster. Currently, users who have subscribed to a 5G service will also be connected to the 4G network to ensure that they have smooth access to a network, according to EE.

On the day of the launch, BBC completed its first 5G live news broadcast in London. Tests by The Verge showed that the speed of the 5G service in the UK varied from 190Mbps to 980Mbps at different locations.

The 5G network used by EE is based primarily on Huawei's Massive MIMO, which is leading the global industry in terms of performance.

Information sits on the base of a 5G CPE (customer-premises equipment) Pro router, manufactured by Huawei Technologies Co., following a news conference announcing the rollout of BT Group Plc's EE 5G network in London, U.K., on Wednesday, May 22, 2019. [Photo: VCG]

Vodafone LSE also plans to start offering 5G services in the UK using Huawei equipment.

The next generation mobile network will cover most parts of the UK by 2027, based on the plans of the UK government, which is also pushing for the use of 5G technology in areas such as self-driving cars and telemedicine.