A dedicated indoor coverage solution installed across Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 Departures at Manchester Airport has been delivering Vodafone 5G Standalone (5G SA), as well as improving existing 4G and 5G coverage.
With its faster data speeds and ability to serve greater numbers of customers, dedicated 5G SA means Vodafone customers with compatible devices and plans can take advantage of a fast and strong connection inside the airport, even when the building is at its busiest.
Vodafone’s 5G SA network is also able to support airport-based businesses with various applications, from automated passport systems to retail stock control.
The activity is part of a UK-wide £11 billion investment programme announced by VodafoneThree in June 2025, which includes a commitment to roll out 5G SA to 99% of the UK population by 2030, extending further to 99.96% by 2034.
Recent modelling found that this 5G SA network could help the transportation and storage industry deliver around £2.8bn in Gross Value Add (GVA) for the UK economy.
The investment could also boost the North West’s GVA growth by approximately £9.9bn. Other activities include upgrades to thousands of sites across the UK, letting Vodafone and Three customers connect to the best available coverage, at no extra cost.
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Andrea Donà, Chief Network Officer, VodafoneThree, said: “Manchester Airport is the third busiest airport in the UK and a major contributor to both the North of England and the wider UK economy. Having Vodafone 5G Standalone in the airport means customer are getting the best network experience out there.
“Meanwhile, the airport will have world-class digital infrastructure, supporting growth and contributing to both the local and wider UK economy. Manchester Airport is a great example of how we’re moving at pace to deliver a new era of connectivity.”
Jennifer Byrne-Smith, Director of Customer Operations, Manchester Airport, said: “We’re proud to connect the people of the North with the world via our unrivalled route network, and now they can stay better connected than ever before while they’re in our terminals, thanks to this significant investment in Vodafone’s 5G coverage.
“It will augment the world-class passenger experience we’re creating in our terminals, with our £1.3bn, decade-long transformation of Terminal 2 due for completion this year, and work also underway on the redevelopment of Terminal 3’s Departure lounge.”
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