LTE in the UK: the rollout begins
Trailing their counterparts in the US, Asia, and the rest of Europe, UK mobile operators are finally ready to deploy their 4G LTE networks. The 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum will provide Vodafone, O2, and Three with the ability to offer 4G services capable of rivalling EE, which enjoyed months as the UK's only LTE network. EE has vowed to double the capacity and speed of its superfast service, delivering more 4G bandwidth than any of its UK competitors, in an attempt to retain customers and fend off competition from its rivals. But will it be enough? Follow the whole story right here.
EE to double 4G download speeds as UK LTE battle heats up
Having already enjoyed seven months as the UK's only LTE operator, EE has laid out the next phase of its plans to retain customers ahead of entry into the 4G market by its carrier rivals. Speaking at an event in London today, EE CEO Olaf Swantee announced that the carrier will boost the speed and capacity of its 4G network, doubling both the absolute top speed on EE's networks to over 80Mbps and average speed to over 20Mbps. Plans and prices will remain the same.
UK 4G services set to expand as all major carriers win spectrum in Ofcom auction
Ofcom has announced the winners of its long-awaited 4G spectrum auction in the UK. Major carriers O2, Vodafone, EE, and Three have all won spectrum, and so has Niche Spectrum Ventures, a subsidiary of BT. Consumer services are expected to start rolling out in spring or summer this year, and O2's allocation of 800MHz spectrum means that it is obligated to cover 98 percent of the UK population with indoor reception by the end of 2017.
Three UK promises to provide LTE without increasing prices
The UK's LTE adoption story has been dominated by EE so far — with the upstart network exploiting some spare spectrum to launch its 4G service ahead of the competition — but now Three has stepped up with a major pledge that will make smartphone buyers think twice. Three has just announced that it'll not charge a price premium for LTE connectivity on its smartphone price plans — that is to say, whatever you're paying for 3G today will be the same you pay tomorrow, only with the delicious...
EE turns on the UK's first LTE network
UK carrier Everything Everywhere is flipping the switch today on the country’s first LTE service, bringing high-speed mobile broadband to 11 cities (Southampton is going live a little early), with five more coming by the holidays. And it isn't stopping there. EE says it will be adding about 2,000 square miles (or two million people) per month, eventually covering 98 percent of the country by the end of 2014.
'Fastest rollout of any UK network'
For those looking to take advantage of the...
EE prices first LTE phones and tariffs in the UK
EE has finally revealed tariff and handset pricing information for its LTE network, due to officially launch in the UK on October 30th. Those hoping for unlimited data will be disappointed, with the company instead opting for different data allowances depending on the monthly cost of your contract. All the tariffs come with unlimited calls and texts on a standard 24 month contract, with the following pricing options available:
EE to launch first UK 4G service on October 30th
EE will set the UK's first LTE service live on October 30th. The network will launch in 10 cities, including London, Manchester, Birmingham, Cardiff, and Bristol, but will expand its coverage to 16 cities — or a third of the UK's population — by the end of the year. The carrier says its service will be five times faster than "typical" 3G speeds.
In a press release announcing the date, EE namedrops the iPhone 5, Samsung Galaxy S III LTE, Nokia Lumia 920 and 820, HTC One XL, and Huawei...
EE announces UK's first 4G network, teases LTE iPhone
There's no LTE iPhone on the UK horizon just yet, but Everything Everywhere is proceeding with its planned rollout of the nation's first 4G network. Starting today, the company will rebrand itself, its network, and its consumer service to simply EE. It will combine Orange and T-Mobile's networks in the UK, however those older brands will persist and "stand alongside" EE in the future.
In simple terms, if you want 4G, you'll go with EE. Olaf Swantee, EE's CEO, introduced the new brand as "a...
An LTE iPhone could be the most disruptive thing in the UK mobile market since the original
Today's been rather a momentous day in the UK mobile arena, following local regulator Ofcom's approval of Everything Everywhere's plans to use existing spectrum to roll out LTE service early. Vodafone, O2 and Three have complained in unison against the market distortions that would result from one carrier having 4G while everyone else waits for an oft-delayed auction, but their biggest fear may yet remain unspoken: a de facto exclusive on the next iPhone.
Everything Everywhere earns Ofcom approval for early LTE in UK, Vodafone left 'shocked'
UK telecoms regulator Ofcom has granted final approval for Everything Everywhere's proposed plan to roll out LTE service on its 1800MHz spectrum ahead of the proper UK 4G auction expected next year. The conglomerate, represented by the T-Mobile and Orange brands in the British market, was keen to seize the initiative by exploiting what resources it already had, which naturally incurred the wrath of direct competitors Vodafone, Three and O2 — none of whom was happy with the idea of losing...
UK 4G auction to 'get under way' by end of 2012, but bidding won't start until 2013
The long-awaited 4G spectrum auction in the UK will get under way by the end of this year, according to the local regulatory body, Ofcom. Oft-delayed and extensively disputed in advance of even taking place, this auction is a major step toward bringing widespread LTE connectivity to the United Kingdom. Ofcom describes it as the biggest ever auction for mobile services spectrum in the country, noting that it'll add 250MHz to the currently used 333MHz of spectrum.
In recognition of the need for...
Mobile
UK Minister for Culture blames carriers for ongoing 4G LTE delays
The UK has seen constant delays when it comes to the rollout of 4G LTE networks and, according to the Minister for Culture, it's the mobile carriers that are to blame. While speaking at the Future of Entertainment summit in London, minister Ed Vaizey explained that constant legal threats from mobile carriers are the root cause of the ongoing delays. "Just about every mobile service provider has threatened to sue Ofcom if they get it wrong," Vaizey said. "If you want to look at the delay,...
Mobile
UK regulators delay Orange / T-Mobile LTE plan, give competitors time to react
UK regulator Ofcom has delayed its decision to approve Everything Everywhere's proposed LTE network in order to give competitors more time to respond following requests for additional time. While Ofcom initially granted the service preliminary approval earlier this month, it gave competitors until April 17th to respond with any issues. That date has now been pushed back to May 8th, giving the likes of Vodafone and O2 an additional three weeks to have their voices heard.
Policy & Law
Three UK upgrading 3G network, might delay LTE auction with legal action
British mobile carrier Three is set to announce a wider rollout of its HSPA 42.2Mbps network tomorrow in a move which could enable it to further delay the long-awaited LTE auction, according to The Guardian. Currently, Three operates an HSPA 21.1Mbps network in the majority of the country, but has previously claimed that it could reach the capacity of this system unless LTE spectrum becomes available soon. Upgrading its current network will remove this time pressure, and could give Three the...
Mobile
Vodafone complains about Everything Everywhere's LTE 'head start'
Vodafone UK has spoken out against Ofcom's approval of Everything Everywhere's LTE proposals, telling TechWeek Europe that it is surprised by the decision. The company's head of external communications Richard Wray told the site that Vodafone "seriously doubts that consumers’ best interests will be served by giving one company a significant head start before any of its competitors have a clear path to 4G." Everything Everywhere — owner of both Orange and T-Mobile — cited Ofcom's...
Ofcom approves Orange and T-Mobile plan to launch LTE in UK this year
UK telecommunications authority Ofcom has granted preliminary approval for Britain's first commercial LTE network. Earlier today, Ofcom said that it would allow Everything Everywhere, a joint venture between Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom, to use the 1800MHz spectrum (which usually hosts 2G communications) for LTE and potentially WiMAX on Orange and T-Mobile's networks. Everything Everywhere announced last month that it would be testing its first 1800MHz LTE network in April following a...
Orange and T-Mobile UK to launch LTE in 2012, pending regulatory approval
Everything Everywhere, the joint venture between Deutsche Telekom and France Telecom, has announced it plans to launch 4G networks on its Orange and T-Mobile brands in the UK. Subject to Ofcom approval by the spring, the company says it is ready to roll out 4G in the UK this year.
Trials for the UK's first 4G LTE network over 1800MHz are due to take place in Bristol from April in preparation for a 2012 launch, following successful tests in Cornwall over the 800MHz cellular band. Everything...
O2 LTE service begins trial in London
O2 announced today that it's beginning a nine-month trial of LTE data service in London, the next phase in its rollout of the super-fast data network. The carrier says hundreds of customers will be given LTE modems, and they should see data speeds as high as 150Mbps (though presumably that's due to so few people crowding the network). It's a small test, and given recent history, not even an indication that LTE is coming soon — O2 began another similar test in the UK two years ago, and we've...
Mobile
Delayed spectrum auction could mean no 4G in the UK until 2014
While the US rollout of 4G LTE networks marches on, our British comrades continue to wait for the next-generation network to arrive. Operators are starting LTE testing on a very small scale — 200 people — but mass rollout isn't expected until 2014, largely because an auction of the 800MHz and 2.6GHz spectrum that will likely be the basis for 4G LTE networks has seen repeated delays. The UK's big cell operators can't agree on standards for the auction or obligations for the winners, and...
