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Like rival mafioso meeting outside Satriale’s pork store to settle a beef, the mobile phone networks, regulators and government ministers are meeting for a sit-down today to settle their 4G differences.
Maria Miller, the incoming Culture Secretary, will chair the summit, which aims to to hammer out a deal that will prevent the networks from appealing against Ofcom’s decision to approve EE’s 4G service. EE — which is formed from Orange and T-Mobile — plans to launch 4G any day, while O2, Vodafone, Three and other networks must wait.
It’s likely that all involved will be looking to bring forward the date the other networks can get in on the action, by bringing forward the auction of 4G spectrum. The auction is currently set for next year, giving EE a headstart that O2 and Vodafone are most unhappy with — especially as EE will be the first to offer 4G on the new iPhone 5.
It’s in EE’s interest to get this squared away, so the rival networks drop their challenge to EE’s own 4G launch. Once they do, EE can finally go ahead with its 4G service, launching in 16 cities in a matter of weeks or potentially even days.
The phone networks are looking to use LTE technology to replace the current 3G network. The new tech, known as 4G, is set to fire up next-generation data speeds to your mobile phone and tablet, as well as wider coverage to bring the Web to rural areas in the future.
EE, formerly known as Everything Everywhere, has a headstart because of the spare airwaves left over when Orange and T-Mobile merged. Ofcom controversially approved the 1,800MHz band for 4G use, while rival networks must wait for the Ofcom auction. Because different frequencies will be sold off in the auction, phones that work on EE’s service will not work on O2 and Vodafone’s eventual 4G services, and vice versa.
- For much more, read our complete guide to 4G in the UK.
What are your questions about 4G? What would you like to ask EE and the other networks? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
