[wrexham103.4]

when we finally get 4G in the Uk, what do you think the price of data will be? will it still be cheaper to have broadband? I for one resent having to pay BT £14 a month just for line rental, so I can have broadband and dont use my home phone for calls at all.

[sheppy124]

an interesting concept, going slightly off the topic, my dads just had a wireless broadband fitted from a company in his area with 10mb download speed, and internet phone for 19 pounds a month. Back on topic knowing the networks as they seem to be doing know getting a decent data allowance will cost.

Dont really know that much about it, can the current phones handlie it or does it mean new handsets with the right tech in them.

[Mark Smith]

I think the cost of data will remain the same, but mobile operators will still make more money out of it because people will be downloading more data faster and requiring higher or unlimited download limits.

The cost of unlimited data plans will probably rise or be data capped with new higher cost unlimited plans.

[andersonsonson]

I can't wait for 4G, going to change my life

[TheBigM]

Data will still be expensive, you have something called the Shannon limit, which is a limit in physics which we are getting closer to reaching. Also we have limited spectrum.

4G will help because we are adding frequencies not just repurposing existing ones but wireless has a long way to go to reach the capacity of home wired connections, not least because for home broadband the companies are slowly pushing the fibre closer and closer to our homes.

[Everything Goes]

A few years ago our useless telecoms regulator Ofcom looked at allowing customer to sign up for Broadband only service and not having to bother with having to sign up for a telephone service to get it. However BT moaned about it and Ofcom decided to kick it into the long grass and forgot about it.

Wireless broadband has BT slightly worried hence they are crawling out Fibre to those people who already have excellent broadband services.

4G will provide a variable experience but once again it will focus on the haves rather than have nots. Rural services (anywhere outside of large towns) when they do appear will be highly contended. So don't expect fast speeds.

[Thine Wonk]

Originally Posted by Everything Goes

4G will provide a variable experience but once again it will focus on the haves rather than have nots. Rural services (anywhere outside of large towns) when they do appear will be highly contended. So don't expect fast speeds.

Not quite, Ofcom is likely to insist that the winners of the licences have a coverage requirement which is much stricter than it was with 3G.

It's only some operators that have had no interest in rural 3G. On some networks you can get quite good rural 3G in a lot of places.

[Everything Goes]

Originally Posted by Thine Wonk

Not quite, Ofcom is likely to insist that the winners of the licences have a coverage requirement which is much stricter than it was with 3G.

It's only some operators that have had no interest in rural 3G. On some networks you can get quite good rural 3G in a lot of places.

Ofcom have indicated they want 98% of the population coverage on 4G. But there is not time frame. So it could be 98% of the population in 20 years

Its anybody's guess but given how poor 3G coverage is and Ofcom only recently telling the networks to increase their 3G coverage to 90% by June 2013 its hardly inspiring stuff given its taken 10 years and they haven't even got to 90%

Don't hold your breath


http://media.ofcom.org.uk/2012/01/12...overage/#_ftn1

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin...Hz-methodology

[The Lord Lucan]

Last i heard one of the licenses (probably the best block selection) may contain population coverage roll-out obligation of 98% or more at speeds of 2 Mbps by end 2017...

[Everything Goes]

Originally Posted by The Lord Lucan

Last i heard one of the licenses (probably the best block selection) may contain population coverage roll-out obligation of 98% or more at speeds of 2 Mbps by end 2017...

BT are crawling out 330 Mbps Fibre increasing the digital divide. Makes 2Mbps seem even more pathetic

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php...consumers.html

[TheBigM]

Originally Posted by Everything Goes

BT are crawling out 330 Mbps Fibre increasing the digital divide. Makes 2Mbps seem even more pathetic

http://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php...consumers.html

And yet both BT and Virgin Media are struggling to cite the needs for such a high speeds only being able to talk about "digital families" where everyone is streaming music, video in the house simultaneously.

I think 2Mb may be a bit low and should be 4 or 5 Mb but the government's agenda is not to push broadband for broadband's sake or for everyone to have access to streaming HD video (which should be regarded as luxuries).

The 2Mb minimum enables social and economic inclusion. Gives a usable speed for browsing so people can do things all the things that are online these days: search their local library catalogues, sign up for things, do online shopping etc etc.