4G. The UK lags behind

Mark Brill | January 27, 2012

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Posted in 3G, 4G, 4G roll out, Mobile Network Operators, mobile operators

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In the UK we’re still waiting for our 4G. If the network operator data caps are anything to go by, 3G is creaking under the strain. However, in spite of early promises for the Olympics, it looks like the UK roll-out for 4G will take a while. Ofcom, the regulator won’t decide on how the spectrum will be sold until summer 2012. Then there’s the auctions. Then there’s the roll-out itself. When will we actually see 4G in the UK? 2014 would be my guess. In the meantime, the best solution seems to be O2′s one, which is to install WiFi hotspots for their smartphone users.

Other countries are way ahead. The US has tended to lag behind other developed countries when it comes to mobile, but they’ve had it for over a year. So have Canada, and the obvious advanced mobile countries including S. Korea, Japan and most of Scandinavia. That’s all well and good, but a number of countries who would be considered less advanced in the mobile space are also starting to implement 4G. The include Bangladesh, Cameroon, Peru, Fiji, South Africa, Ghana, Jamaica and Nigeria. As has been predicted, it looks as if some up and coming countries will leap-frog their more mobile-mature counterparts with new, super-fast mobile connections. And when everyone can get high speed internet everything changes.

There’s a handy list of which countries have 4G (and 3G for that matter), here.

Filed under: Mobile Network Operators Tagged: 3G, 4G, 4G roll out, mobile operators