O2 has confirmed that it will be the last of the UK’s ‘Big Four’ mobile network operators to launch 5G connectivity when it switches on the technology in parts of Belfast, Cardiff, Edinburgh, London, Slough, and Leeds in October this year.

5G will be introduced at train stations, important business areas, and entertainment and sports venues, including The O2 and Twickenham Stadium, as part of what O2 is calling an “intelligence-led rollout strategy driven by data and insight that identifies where customers will benefit from 5G the most”.

Ahead of the launch, the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G will be available to O2 customers from 8 August, followed by the Xiaomi Mix 3 5G later in the same month.

“5G is going to be a game changer for our country. Whether it’s for people or businesses, the power of this next-generation network is going to unlock a world of possibilities for our economy and society,” said Mark Evans, Telefonica UK CEO.

“As we switch on our network across the country, our intelligence-led roll-out prioritises the key areas in towns and cities first – the places where our customers need, and will use, 5G the most. We’re also giving our customers maximum flexibility with our industry-leading custom plans, letting people adopt 5G at a time that’s right for them.”

O2 has also announced that it will be opening 5G innovation spaces within its Wayra accelerator hubs. These spaces will provide 5G test environments to startups and scale-ups. In addition, the operator will launch a new business division on 1 August. O2 Business will consolidate its B2B activity across enterprise and wholesale partners, bringing together all product development alongside its enterprise and wholesale sales and commercial teams.