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4G is spreading — a pandemic of superfast data blossoming around the world. EE now supports 4G roaming for people coming to the UK, with US network AT&T its first partner, so if you have friends or rellies over from America who use 4G on AT&T, they’ll be able to use it here too.
But when will Brits be able to use 4G overseas? EE is still working on that, it says. “In order to unlock the full potential of 4G roaming,” the company says in a statement today, “EE is working with our Rest of World partners on innovative new wholesale models to ensure customers have access to the data they need to stay connected abroad.”
EE has the widest 4G coverage of any network, blanketing 160 towns and cities across the country by the end of the year. It’s the fastest too, if you pay for its double speed offer, averaging over 24Mbps.
“Technology is not just shaping how people book and research holidays, but what they look for when they are choosing a country to visit,” says EE CEO Olaf Swantee. “From finding their way to local landmarks, to avoiding the Oxford street crowds by shopping on their tablet, tourists are increasingly looking for fast and reliable mobile experiences when they travel abroad.”
More 4G options opening up
O2 and Vodafone are rolling out 4G quickly, meanwhile, with most major cities now supported by the blue and red networks, while Three is just about to start its 4G service in Birmingham, London, Manchester and Reading.
Three recently expanded its Feel At Home scheme to the US, so you can use data and call home for no extra cost in the land of the free. The numerical network hasn’t yet said whether roaming will be part of that.
EE has been pretty pricey for most of this year, with stingey data caps. With Three set to offer 4G at no extra cost, and more competition from the other two operators, prices are beginning to fall, with O2’s cheapest deal now £17.
Are the lack of 4G roaming options stopping you from upgrading? Or is it still too expensive? Which countries are most important for roaming? Roam free in the comments, or on our stay-at-home Facebook page.
