Ofcom give their blessing to Everything Everywhere 4G roll-out, Vodafone bite back
Everything Everywhere have been given the green-light by Ofcom to begin rolling out their 4G mobile services in the UK later this year.
As of 11 September, Everything Everywhere (the umbrella company for Orange and T-Mobile) will be able to deploy their 4G mobile services, which will significantly improve mobile internet download speeds. Everything Everywhere will be allowed to use the 18000MHz spectrum, with other operators given a cut of the 4G spectrum next year following an auction.
“Ofcom’s decision to make 4G available this year is great news for the UK. Consumers will soon be able to benefit from the much greater mobile speeds that 4G will deliver,” reads an Everything Everywhere statement.
“4G will drive investment, employment and innovation and we look forward to making it available later this year, delivering superfast mobile broadband to the UK.”
However, not everyone is happy with the decision. Most vocal in their disapproval are rival operators Vodafone.
“We are frankly shocked that Ofcom has reached this decision,” said a Vodafone spokesperson.
“The regulator has shown a careless disregard for the best interests of consumers, businesses and the wider economy through its refusal to properly regard the competitive distortion created by allowing one operator to run services before the ground has been laid for a fully competitive 4G market.
“Ofcom’s timing is particularly bizarre given the reports that Everything Everywhere is currently in discussions to sell some of its spectrum to 3, which Ofcom has previously been at such pains to protect with its over-engineering of the 4G auction. This means the balance in the auction will fundamentally change.”
Interestingly, the 11 September date lines up just a day ahead of Apple’s rumoured iPhone 5 launch. Could Everything Everywhere be lining up a launch for a 4G LTE iPhone?
