Superfast 4G mobile network goes live at end of month

SUPERFAST mobile phone internet services will go live in Glasgow and Edinburgh as well as eight other cities in the UK by the end of the month, network operators have said.

The new 4G services are being rolled out by EE, owner of Orange and T-Mobile, and will launch in the Scottish cities and London, Bristol, Birmingham, Cardiff, Leeds, Sheffield, Liverpool and Manchester on October 30.

The network will of f e r download speeds up to five times faster than the current 3G system, allowing people to get films, music, television and web pages from the internet on their phones far quicker than is currently possible

However, 4G can only be accessed on top-of-the-range handsets such as the Apple iPhone 5 and new devices from HTC, Samsung, Nokia and Huawei, meaning people will have to upgrade their current phone or buy a new one.

Consumer experts say costs for the service will come at a premium, with prices of around £40 a month on top of an upfront cost of the 4G-enabled devices. They expect demand to be high in the run-up to Christmas.

Telecomms expert Ernst Doku, of uSwitch.com, said: “There is still a bit of confusion among the public about what 4G will deliver, so it remains to be seen what demand will be like.

“Companies have also not developed the services that really show what 4G can do. But once they do you will see a lot more interest in getting a handset that can access it.

“And we have seen from the take up of the iPhone 5, where people queued round the blocks, some people are already desperate to get their hands on the latest gadget. You can expect a huge push from the companies to show what 4G can deliver.”

The announcement about the roll-out of 4G comes after regulator Ofcom agreed to make remaining network airspace available to other operators sooner than planned , averting a legal challenge from the likes of rivals Vodafone and O2 owner Telefonica.

Clearing the airwaves ready for use earlier will allow other operators to offer their services by spring next year, rather than October 2013.

EE chief executive Olaf Swantee said: “This is a significant milestone for the UK and for the people and businesses of our country who will now be able to enjoy the huge advantages of superfast 4G technology for the first time.”

EE said customers in a further six cities – Belfast, Derby, Hull, Newcastle, Nottingham and Southampton – will have access to 4G by the end of the year.

The group then plans to roll out the service to further towns, cities and rural areas next year, with population coverage of 70% and rising to 98% in 2014.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the Government expects 4G services will boost the UK’s economy by around £2 billion to £3bn.