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Everything Everywhere lobbies to speed up UK 4G deployment

by Alistair Lowe on 30 April 2012, 10:20

Tags: Everything Everywhere

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4G roll-out in the UK is quite the tricky situation and nothing is quite what it appears to be. Whilst 34 other countries have now deployed 4G networks, the UK, traditionally a leader in mobile technology, has been stuck in the 3G stone-age, as network providers quibble over spectrum allocations for new 4G networks.

At the core of the issue, two new frequency bands are up for grabs, 2.6GHz and the newly freed 800MHz, thanks to the shut-down of analogue TV earlier this year. The primary culprits in 4G progression are O2 and Vodafone, who are arguing over current Ofcom auction terms, where the regulator has reserved a base level of spectrum for smaller firm, Three, in order to keep the market competitive.

T-Mobile and Orange's Everything Everywhere, on the other hand, is acting quite mellow over Ofcom's decision, however is losing patience as it waits for matters to be resolved, launching the 4GBritain campaign, encouraging businesses and consumer champions to sign-up as equal partners. The campaign asks government "to do whatever is necessary to move forward" with the roll-out.

Everything Everywhere, however, has previously requested that Ofcom allow it to redeploy its existing 1.8GHz spectrum for 4G and, would have the most to gain from a push to roll-out, as it would be able to redeploy within but a few months, ahead of competition. Launching the 4GBritain campaign could be a last ditch attempt at getting its way, should Ofcom refuse its request, in a ruling that is expected on May 8th.

Both Everything Everywhere and Ofcom claim to be working on behalf of consumer interests and, depending on how you look at the matter, with secondary agendas aside, both are. Were Everything Everywhere to have its way, 4G would be deploying before year's end, however other firms may be disadvantaged by the move, stifling competition. Likewise, Ofcom's approach would ensure healthy long-term competition, but a roll-out could takes years if its decision is challenged in court.

This writer recommends that firms and consumers do join the 4GBritain campaign, though instead push the government for unchallengeable rights to Ofcom's decision or a pre-emptive and fast-tracked challenge in court to place the entire matter to rest.



HEXUS Forums :: 11 Comments

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Due to the rubbish data limits from T-mobile/Orange and excessive prices for a good package - who gives a flying F about what T-mobile or orange want regarding 4G.
This writer recommends that firms and consumers do join the 4GBritain campaign, though instead push the government for unchallengeable rights to Ofcom's decision or a pre-emptive and fast-tracked challenge in court to place the entire matter to rest.
Is it just me struggling to follow what's being recommended there?

I can't make out whether that supports the 4GBritain campaign, or something else “instead”. Is there a typo, or just strange wording?
Saracen
Is it just me struggling to follow what's being recommended there? I can't make out whether that supports the 4GBritain campaign, or something else “instead”. Is there a typo, or just strange wording?
Yes, it is a bit convoluted wording - I take it as that what is meant is that what 4GBritain is doing is okay on the whole, but wants the O2/Voda nonsense settled quickly.
Actually, although I don't like either O2 or Voda, I think they've perhaps got a point in being miffed if Three are getting any kind of preferential treatment. Can't see a “competition” justification for it, since unless O2/Voda/EE are in some kind of cartel, then there's definitely competition.
Brewster0101
Due to the rubbish data limits from T-mobile/Orange and excessive prices for a good package - who gives a flying F about what T-mobile or orange want regarding 4G.
Agree that Orange's prices for data are excessive (at least last time I looked), on the other hand T-Mobile always struck me as being pretty okay - not as good a deal as you get with Three, but at least T-Mob isn't shackled with Three's excrescent customer “service”.

I think Orange are still aiming for the talker/texter rather than the data user, as are Vodafone, and to a lesser extent O2. That said, the one (and so far only) time I dealt with O2's customer service, they were friendly but pretty ineffectual.

I did a quick survey at the weekend, (because my current contract runs out in two months), and this is what I found in 1 year SIM-only contracts at around the £15/month mark:

Three: £15pm; 600 mins; 3000 texts; unlimited data
T-Mobile: £15.50pm; 300 mins; 5000 texts; 750MB data
Orange: £15.50pm; 600 mins; unlimited texts; 500MB data
O2: £16.50pm; 300 mins; unlimited texts; 500MB data
Vodafone: £15pm; 300 mins; unlimited texts; 500MB data

Remarkably consistent, (as I hope you'd expect given competition), in fact the O2 and Voda packages seem identical barring that extra £1.50 that Orange charges.
Brewster0101
Due to the rubbish data limits from T-mobile/Orange and excessive prices for a good package - who gives a flying F about what T-mobile or orange want regarding 4G.

lol!! +1 to that Brewster0101. As much as I would love to use 4G as the trial in London http://hexus.net/mobile/news/service-providers/38097-successful-4g-trials-o2-london seems to have shown good results but providers need to loosen their grip on the current data limits and high pricing to make this tech viable for everyday use. I have a 1Gb limit on my current plan which with an average speed of 30Mb/s = 267 seconds of full bandwidth use before my data limit is reached….
Orange t-mobile really expect 4G to be a success with their data caps?!