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It seems network slicing is the next big thing with the UK’s mobile networks, as following on from EE’s launch of Fast Lane, Vodafone has announced the similarly-named FastTrack – a dedicated ‘lane’ on Vodafone’s network that prioritises your connection. That means even in busy areas where the network is in high demand, you should experience high speeds and a reliable connection.

It used to be when signing up with a mobile network that you just had to worry about what allowances to choose – and maybe which phone if you were upgrading your handset too. But now increasingly you also have to choose how fast you want your data to be. No longer do plans necessarily come with uncapped speeds as standard. Instead, many networks have started instituting speed limits on their cheaper plans, with 10Mbps being among the lowest.

It used to be that the vast majority of mobile networks didn’t cap your speeds on any of their plans, but now, with the likes of 5G Standalone making possible speeds even higher – and arguably higher than many people need – some networks are starting to roll out caps on certain plans. These caps of course also allow them to charge more for plans with unrestricted speeds – a move which perhaps helps them fund their ongoing network upgrades.

EE has just rolled out a UK-first dubbed Fast Lane, which is a dedicated slice of the company’s 5G+ (5G Standalone) network that it will seamlessly move customers to in busy and congested areas, such as stadiums or transport hubs. That means you’ll be able to keep using data at full speed, rather than falling victims to the sluggish speeds or complete data failures that can occur when thousands of other nearby people are also trying to get online.

Tesco Mobile is the latest in a short line of networks to roll out plans designed specifically for children. Called Safe Start SIMs, these are available on a 12-month contract with a choice of 2GB, 12GB, or 30GB of data. They also come with unlimited minutes and texts, 5G, and inclusive EU roaming. But what makes them designed for kids is that they also include expert safety and setup support, and a choice of parental controls, such as the option to restrict content for under 12s and under 18s.

EE currently sells two different home broadband devices, but at a glance you might struggle to tell much difference between them. They have very similar names for a start, with one being called the EE Smart 5G Hub 7 Pro and the other being called the EE Smart 5G Hub 7 Plus. And they look similar too, as they’re large, mostly white rectangles with a black section at the bottom. But there are in fact some differences, which are worth knowing about before you order either.

At the time of writing, EE sells two different 5G home broadband routers. There’s the top-end EE Smart 5G Hub 7 Pro, and the slightly lower end EE Smart 5G Hub 7 Plus, and it’s that second router we’ll be looking at here. Being lower end, it also costs a little less, while still matching its pricier sibling in a lot of ways, so is this the right choice for you, or should you splurge on the top-tier model?

Lebara is no longer just a UK mobile network – it has also launched a travel eSIM, giving you a dedicated option for trips abroad. This is a potentially cheaper option for using data abroad than roaming with your main network, whether that main network is Lebara itself or something else, so it’s worth considering for your next trip. Below, we’ve looked at exactly how Lebara’s travel eSIM works, and how it compares to the competition.

About James Rogerson James has been writing for us for over 10 years. Currently, he is Editorial Manager for our group of companies ( 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk) and sub-editor at TechRadar. He specialises in smartphones, mobile networks/ technology, tablets, and wearables. In the past, James has also written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media, Smart TV Radar, and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.

About James Rogerson James has been writing for us for over 10 years. Currently, he is Editorial Manager for our group of companies ( 3G.co.uk, 4G.co.uk and 5G.co.uk) and sub-editor at TechRadar. He specialises in smartphones, mobile networks/ technology, tablets, and wearables. In the past, James has also written for T3, Digital Camera World, Clarity Media, Smart TV Radar, and others, with work on the web, in print and on TV.