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UK's first 4G network to launch

18.05.13

The iPhone is expected to be announced on Wednesday and be a ‘pentaband’ device, meaning it can use five different radio frequencies. If one of the frequencies offered is the 1800MHz device that is currently available solely to Everything Everywhere, owners of T-Mobile and Orange, then it would become the only company in the UK able to offer the speeds of 4G.

Rival operators have threatened to challenge Everything Everywhere’s plans in court, claiming that communications regulator Ofcom is allowing the firm an advantage of up to a year when it will be Britain’s sole 4G operator. Everything Everywhere, however, has in turn threatened to challenge the auction that will itself allow rivals to provide such services. Three is likely to offer a 4G service early in 2013, but Vodafone and O2 are likely to have to wait until summer at the earliest.

Those premium handsets and expensive new infrastructure could mean that the UK's first 4G network is expensive for consumers - but prices are not likely to be beyond those early adopters pay for the latest phones, and are likely to be competitive, sources say. That should mean £40 a month and less, on a contract.

Source: Telegraph.co.uk