In the UK the only telecoms provider supplying 4G LTE connectivity at the moment is EE. This is all set to change in the summer as there should be four major mobile networks offering 4G LTE by then. Today Three put its cards on the table with regard to pricing and promised that users won’t pay any extra for its 4G LTE packages.
No need to pay to ‘upgrade’
Three wrote that “LTE, otherwise known as 4G, will be added to Three’s Ultrafast network later this year. Unlike some other UK mobile operators, it will be available across all existing and new price plans without customers needing to pay a premium fee to ‘upgrade’.”
In a press release with the headline “Three to offer latest technology as standard with no price premium” the company put forward its Ultrafast connectivity philosophy. Three UK chief executive Dave Dyson explained “Our customers choose Three because they love the internet and know they can get great speeds and great value on our award-winning network.” Looking to the future and the roll out of Three’s 4G LTE services, he said “As we add the next wave of technology to our Ultrafast network, we’ve listened to our customers and thought long and hard about the right way to do it. We don’t want to limit Ultrafast services to a select few based on a premium price and we’ve decided our customers will get this service as standard.”
Summer of 4G
Three’s upcoming 4G services will be rolled out using the 1,800MHz spectrum it bought from EE. Last year EE agreed to sell off some of its spectrum to Three to appease telecoms regulators. So Three will be able to roll out its 4G services without dependency upon the ongoing spectrum auctions with Vodafone and O2 – it is guaranteed a minimum spectrum holding anyway. To bolster its network Three is also asking Ofcom’s permission to use its existing 2,100MHz spectrum to roll out 4G services.
EE’s efforts to milk its 4G advantage have been received poorly by HEXUS readers, who remain largely unimpressed with the pricing and allowances of the service, though the coverage and density of the service has increased considerably. Also as recently as November, EE announced tweaks to the data allowances in the customer’s favour, within its mobile broadband package offerings.
Devices
4G LTE device choice is growing with most smartphone and tablet manufacturers offering compatible devices already. Three mentions the Apple iPhone 5, Nokia Lumia 920, Sony Xperia Z, Apple iPad mini and Apple iPad with Retina display are already in its stores and will be able to take advantage of the new faster connectivity when it comes on-line later in the year. Also before that time there will be lots of other 4G capable devices emerging.
