Vodafone UK is to conduct 5G trials in seven cities with roll-outs starting between October and December this year.
Its engineers are laying the groundwork for 5G at more than 40 sites in Birmingham, Bristol, Cardiff, Glasgow, Liverpool, London and Manchester.
Discussions with a number of enterprise customers are also underway with a view to testing new 5G applications such as augmented and virtual reality in offices, factories and hospitals.
Vodafone anticipates the commercial launch of full 5G early in 2020.
Vodafone UK Chief Executive Nick Jeffery said: "We want to make 5G and new fibre broadband services available to consumers and business throughout the UK, delivering a Gigabit society for all.
"We will also be bringing ultra-fast 4G to several hundred sites in hard to reach rural areas this year."