To achieve this major breakthrough, BT has worked with Nokia to successfully combine four low-band and mid-band radio channels (2.1, 2.6, 3.4 and 3.6 GHz), using Nokia's 5G radio access network technology in the US spectrum.

The test was conducted in two stages. It was first carried out in BT's radio lab in Bristol, and then moved outdoors to a radio mast at BT's Adastral Park in Suffolk, where the team successfully achieved 4CC on 5G SA using the regular channels that EE uses to deliver services. This is the first time in Europe that a network operator has achieved 4CC on 5G SA using commercial channels both indoors and outdoors.

Most current 5G networks are non-standalone (NSA), meaning that 5G relies on existing 4G infrastructure. Adding new 5G channels (CA) to an existing standalone network represents a significant leap in the evolution of 5G infrastructure, effectively combining multiple transmission bands into a single connection. Each new channel added enables greater capacity and speed for customer devices.

“Our agreement with Nokia is another demonstration of our commitment to building the most advanced network for our customers. 5G SA, together with edge computing, will unlock new opportunities for customers looking to develop new services,” said Greg McCall, Managing Director of Service Platforms at BT. “Furthermore, this technology showcases what is possible for devices in the future in terms of channel extension compatibility, which is a key part of the customer experience,” he added.

Mark Atkinson, senior vice president of PLM radio access networks, commented: "We are once again delighted to deepen our relationship with BT, supporting them with our industry-leading Carrier Aggregation technology for this trial. Nokia and BT have a long history of investing in cutting-edge technologies, and this trial is yet another example of what our companies can achieve together."