Ericsson technology supports UK commercial 5G network slicing service for consumers and small businesses from EE

EE, part of BT, has launched Fast Lane™, a commercial 5G network slicing service for consumers and small businesses in the UK.

• EE, part of BT, has launched Fast Lane, a commercial 5G network slicing service for consumers and small businesses in the UK.
• The service is underpinned by EE’s 5G Standalone network, built on Ericsson (ERIC)’s cloud-native dual-mode 5G Core the Ericsson Radio System, which is widely deployed across the UK.
• The launch moves network slicing from successful trials into a commercial reality, creating new value for consumers and business, and paving the way for future 5G innovation.

Ericsson (NASDAQ: ERIC) technology is at the heart of a major UK 5G milestone as EE, part of BT, launches Fast Lane, a commercial network slicing service for consumers and small businesses. The new service, available on EE’s Standalone (SA) network, ensures a more predictable and reliable connection for individual subscribers and businesses by moving them onto a dedicated slice of the network during periods of high demand and in congested locations.

The launch marks an important step in the evolution of mobile services in the UK, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all, best-effort approach to one based on delivering differentiated connectivity. The promise of 5G SA has always been its ability to function as an intelligent and programmable platform, capable of supporting a range of connectivity offerings with predictable deterministic performance characteristics, such as throughput and latency. With the introduction of a consumer-facing network slice, BT and Ericsson are turning this vision into a reality with tangible benefits, allowing users to stay seamlessly connected when streaming video, making calls, or using business-critical apps during peak hours or at major events.

The new service lands as consumer appetite for guaranteed experiences continues to grow. Recent Ericsson ConsumerLab research shows the market demand for such services, revealing that more than 40 percent of consumers identify key moments where they would opt for guaranteed network performance, with half of those willing to pay for it. The report also highlights that offering differentiated connectivity can boost customer satisfaction and brand perception, validating the strategic importance of EE’s new service.

The launch is the culmination of a long-standing partnership and extensive collaboration between Ericsson and BT, which has included numerous successful real-world network slicing trials. These trials, conducted at iconic UK locations and events like Wembley Stadium and the SailGP Grand Prix in Portsmouth, proved the technology’s ability to support critical operations, media broadcasts, and enhanced fan experiences in high-demand environments, laying the groundwork for this commercial launch.

Luca Orsini, Head of Ericsson North Europe, said: "This is a landmark moment for UK telecoms and a critical step in monetizing the full potential of 5G. The launch of a commercial network slicing service for consumers demonstrates the real-world value that 5G Standalone architecture can deliver. We are incredibly proud of our deep partnership with BT, which has enabled us to build a 5G Core network that is not only high-performing and efficient but also a platform for groundbreaking innovation. Today, that innovation translates into a premium experience for BT’s customers, and it sets the stage for a future of dynamic, programmable networks that will fuel the UK’s digital economy."

EE’s introduction of Fast Lane is just the beginning of a long-term evolution towards more intelligent and programmable network services. In March 2026, Ericsson and BT renewed and expanded their core network partnership, reinforcing their joint commitment to evolving the network into a more intelligent and programmable platform. The agreement includes the future introduction of Network Slice Selection Function (NSSF) and Network Exposure Function (NEF) into the core network, which in the future will pave the way for more dynamic, application-aware slicing and secure network APIs. These capabilities will empower developers and enterprises to create a new generation of services that can request specific network characteristics on demand, accelerating innovation across industries from logistics to healthcare and beyond.

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