Next-gen mobile network trials announced
Tuesday, May 31, 2011 - 08:27:18
The first significant steps towards the launch of 4G networking in the UK are being made by providers BT and Everything Everywhere, as the two firms announced that Long Term Evolution (LTE) trials are going to run later this year.
September is the month in which LTE will be tested as the country prepares to see the next step up from 3G networking towards superfast, wide ranging connectivity at much higher speeds.
A lucky group of 100 consumers in Cornwall will be used as the guinea pigs for this emerging technology throughout the month, allowing BT and Everything Everywhere to put the fledgling infrastructure through its paces in a controlled environment.
Admittedly it is known that LTE is not really a true 4G networking standard, but rather the closest which it is possible to get to it using the 3G spectrum. This is all rather technical, but it means that once the government has got around to allocating the spectrum to various providers in a way that seems fair, the first batch of LTE-compatible mobile phones will be hitting the market.
Everything Everywhere is the group formed by T-Mobile and Orange, with CEO, Tom Alexander, saying recently that it hopes to be able to offer customers the best 4G network coverage in the UK, once the tests are finalised and roll-out begins.
There are currently no LTE mobiles available in the UK despite the fact that American consumers have been able to use 4G branded mobiles for at least a year. Handsets from firms like HTC have had their 4G antennas ditched for launch in the UK, but it is easy to feel like we are missing out in this area.
Mr Alexander said that with these LTE tests and the promise of future expansion, the UK looks set to lead Europe when it comes to high speed connectivity by 2015.
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