Chinese smartphone company OnePlus plans to release the first commercial 5G handset in Europe next year, supporting the roll-out of next-generation mobile services in the United Kingdom. Pete Lau, Founder and Chief Executive of OnePlus, made the announcement at a technology summit in Hawaii, where semiconductor supplier Qualcomm Technologies launched its Snapdragon 855 mobile chip set for 5G smartphones. “Our users are always eager to try new things and they are now ready to experience the next generation of connectivity and speed,” Lau said. “In response, OnePlus has poured efforts into 5G research since 2016. Today, we stand poised to embrace the dawn of 5G.”

The upcoming OnePlus 5G smartphone will be initially available on EE, the UK’s largest mobile network operator and part of BT Group, according to Lau, who did not provide a specific launch date. The British carrier will switch on its 5G network services in 16 UK cities next year, including London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester. OnePlus and EE have already partnered on a research and development program to ensure their customers get the “best possible 5G connected experience”, according to a statement from the Shenzhen-based smartphone supplier. “We’re working together on cutting edge technology to deliver that, and we’re leading the world on the journey to 5G,” Marc Allera, Chief Executive of BT’s Consumer Division, said in the statement.

Introducing the first 5G handset in Europe – ahead of larger suppliers Samsung Electronics, Huawei Technologies and Apple – would not only burnish the reputation of OnePlus in the premium segment of the global smartphone market, but also help smash people’s general perception that China’s domestic brands are only good for inexpensive, low-quality handsets. Both Huawei and Samsung have also announced plans to launch 5G smartphone models next year, but Apple is holding off until at least 2020 before offering a 5G iPhone, according the South China Morning Post.

Founded in 2013, OnePlus is a rarity among Chinese smartphone brands because it derives almost 70% of its sales from outside China, with the U.S., Europe and India among its biggest markets. OnePlus is now among the top five supplier of high-end Android smartphone models across the world.

Meanwhile, another Chinese smartphone maker – Xiaomi – beat Apple and Fitbit to claim the No 1 spot again in the global wearables market this third quarter, according to research firm IDC. The company sold 6.9 million wearable devices up to September, accounting for over 20% of global market share.