Posts Tagged 4G
LETE delay to hit homes and businesses
Posted by Jeremy in Latest Broadband News on September 28, 2011
With news that the 4G network planned for the UK is going to be delayed, many people are concerned at the possibility of the UK getting left behind as LTE connections flourish in other countries.
LTE has been described by many as being an industry changing development in terms of the mobile phone landscape, and the options available to users could be too numerous to mention, but with several delays to the bidding process for this new technology in the UK, it has become impossible to even estimate when we might have access to this great step forward.
Despite the obvious advantages of having a faster and more reliable connection in terms of mobile broadband, one of the main problems that is envisaged because of the delays is the increasing pressure that is falling upon the shoulders of the 3G network. Indications are that the network can only cope with so many users, and as that number grows, the quality of 3G connections will diminish. For all the excitement surrounding smart phones and their capabilities, it has to be said that the 3G network does not get the best out of them, and most users end up relying on WiFi connections to use them for what has become their main purpose – browsing the internet.
There’s no doubt that LTE will change everything in terms of mobile phones when it arrives on these shores, but given the fact that it is already in existence in many other European countries, and is yet to have even been bid for in the UK, it is hard to imagine that it is going to be here any time soon.
BT and Orange to form alliance in the unleashing of 4G
Posted by Jeremy in Broadband Guides, Broadband Reviews, Latest Broadband News on May 29, 2011
BT and Orange have announced a formal agreement to work together in the delivery of the ground breaking trial of 4G in the sleepy Cornish Village of St Newlyn East, on the outskirts of Newquay. Despite being nothing more than a quiet village in rural Cornwall, St Newlyn is set to trial a technology before any other part of the country.
It is thought that if the trial is successful, it could see Parts of the country which struggle with broadband connections having a viable, and notably portable internet connection which can produce a high end browsing quality.
Despite the fact that 4G is widely reported to have the potential to work at high speeds in excess of the current UK average broadband speed, Both Orange and BT have remained tight lipped over potential speeds, declaring that they would rather await the results of the trial rather than speculate at this time.
It also appears that the trials will take place sooner rather than later, with interested parties invited to apply for a place within the trial scheme before 30th June 2011, although it is thought that even if the trial is successful, a full rollout of the technology would not occur until 2013 at the earliest.
Although both companies have been pressed in terms of the potential cost to customers once this service is widely available, no indications of price have been forthcoming. It would be thought that any deals would be tied in with phone contract prices anyway, but given the fact that speeds are likely to be as fast or even faster than normal broadband speeds, it would make sense to presume that prices will be at a similar level.
We wait with interest to see whether the trials are a success or not, but for the benefit of UK residents it is certainly hoped for.