O2's 5G network is now live, but it's currently limited to just six cities

(Image credit: O2)

O2 is the latest network to debut its 5G network, and if you've got the right phone (and data plan) you'll be able to access the service in six cities scattered over the UK from today.

Rather than whole cities, O2 is debuting its technology in particular locations. Those include Waterloo and Kings Cross in London, Haymarket in Edinburgh, Trinity Shopping Centre in Leeds and Belfast South city centre - while Cardiff and Slough have also had O2 5G switched on.

It's also available in The O2 Arena, Twickenham and the Emirates Stadium in London where there are often big events with heavy footfall. 

It means the 5G coverage is currently very limited, but O2 has confirmed that it'll be available in over 20 locations by the end of 2019 with 30 more to follow by next summer.

Those 20 locations include Coventry, Nottingham, Blackpool, Derby, Leicester, Reading, Bournemouth, Lisburn, Slough, Bristol, Eton, Stoke, Cardiff, Guildford, Norwich and Windsor. You can find the full list of the other 30 locations on O2's website here.

O2 has debuted unlimited data plans for 5G coverage and these won't cost any more than the equivalent on 4G.

The cheapest 5G tariff comes in at £25 a month for 5GB of data with the most expensive costing £40 for unlimited data. That's excluding an actual phone though, so it's quite expensive to get that unlimited data package.

O2 is also offering contracts on four devices that are the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G, Samsung Galaxy Note 10 Plus 5G, Samsung Galaxy A90 5G and the Xiaomi Mi Mix 3 5G. The network will bring even more devices with 5G compatibility in the future.

James Peckham

James is Managing Editor for Android Police. Previously, he was Senior Phones Editor for TechRadar, and he has covered smartphones and the mobile space for the best part of a decade bringing you news on all the big announcements from top manufacturers making mobile phones and other portable gadgets. James is often testing out and reviewing the latest and greatest mobile phones, smartwatches, tablets, virtual reality headsets, fitness trackers and more. He once fell over.