Everything Everywhere Plans 2012 UK 4G Launch

Everything Everywhere, parent company to T-Mobile and Orange, has announced plans to begin the roll-out of a 4G network in the UK before the end of the year, subject to regulatory approval in the spring.

The company has also revealed that its nationwide roll out of 3G upgrade technology, HSPA+ 21, (aka 3.5G) will be completed in Q3, 2012. It currently covers 60 per cent of the company’s UK network and delivers an estimated 50 per cent increase in data download speeds, and up to 100 per cent faster uploads of pictures, music and video) for customers with compatible devices.

In addition to 3.5G HSPA+ 21, trials of HSPA+ 42, which offers significantly faster data transmission than HSPA+ 21, are due to begin in Q2, with a goal to roll out the technology to customers in Q4 2012.

Everything Everywhere is also launching 4G LTE trials over 1800MHz in Bristol in April. The company says the trial will deliver key learnings on the performance of 4G LTE over its existing 1800Mhz spectrum in both urban and suburban environments.
The Bristol trial follows the launch of Everything Everywhere’s live customer trial of 4G technology over 800MHz spectrum in rural Cornwall in September 2011 and recently extended to July 2012. The company says the Cornwall trial has demonstrated that 800 MHz is optimal for the roll out of 4G LTE in rural areas.

“Everything Everywhere’s vision is to launch 4G for Britain as soon as possible, and the roll out of 3.5G HSPA+ and our 4G trials across Britain are major steps towards delivering on that promise,” says Everything Everywhere CEO, Olaf Swantee. “The integration of the Orange and T-Mobile networks has already given our customers the widest 3G coverage in the UK, and I am pleased to say that with our advanced HSPA+ roll out they will also benefit from the fastest.”