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At long last, we have a date for when we can expect 4G services to arrive in the UK. EE — previously known as Everything Everywhere — has confirmed it will be kicking off its next-gen mobile data service on 30 October.
That’s a little under four weeks to wait. EE will be the first network to bring 4G speeds to the UK, with rival networks like O2 and Vodafone forced to wait until spring next year.
EE boss Olaf Swantee said that the 4G debut was a “significant milestone for the United Kingdom”.
What we still don’t know, however, is how much 4G will cost. As the only operator to offer next-gen speeds, EE is likely to charge a premium for the nascent technology, which has been established in the US for some time.
EE should be revealing that precious pricing information before long — here’s hoping costs are kept to a reasonable level. The network has a postcode checker so you can see if your area will be blessed with 4G coverage.
Getting 4G isn’t as easy as you might hope. Although EE is tied up with Orange and T-Mobile, customers subscribed to those established operators won’t get 4G automatically. Instead, they will need to switch to EE.
Additionally, you’ll need to own a 4G-capable phone. We’ve seen the first wave of LTE smart phones, which look very tempting indeed. The Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE is bound to be a popular option, as is the iPhone 5 and the HTC One XL.
Also be aware that not every 4G phone will work with every operator’s network. The Galaxy S3 LTE deserves a special mention in this regard, because it supports every 4G band we’ll be getting in the UK.
Will you be signing up for 4G? Tell me in the comments or on our Facebook wall, and check out the video below, which explains EE’s brand-new offering.
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EE 4G launch
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