From Sky News:

The company that owns Orange and T-Mobile has been given the go-ahead to launch superfast mobile internet.

Telecoms regulator Ofcom approved an application by mobile operator Everything Everywhere (EE) to use its existing spectrum to deliver 4G ahead of the upcoming auction.

The service could potentially be available within weeks as the company was given the OK to launch 4G any time after September 11 this year.

Ofcom said that allowing EE to use its existing 1800 MHz spectrum in this way will "deliver significant benefits to consumers".

Bring on the legal action! That will ensure it drags on for a year or 2

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/con...1800-statement

Drat. Beat me to it!

I doubt there will be any legal action.

O2, Vodafone and 3 have already stated they will take legal action in May. Im sure they will be making statements to that effect later today.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-18008666

Funnily enough they get the go ahead on September 11th

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19328653

If I were a mobile phone company and the state media regulator allowed one of my rivals to start a 4G service whilst denying others, I'd be straight onto the lawyers and the Competition Commission! It is blatantly anti-competitive.

They won't be able to stop it with legal action.. Might get some sort of compensation but as they have been allowed 3G on 900 and could do 4G on 900 if they so wished they have no case.

Also the new iPhone is rumoured for the 12th !

There is not enough Spectrum on 900Mhz to operate 4G LTE so that will never happen.

Its also unlikely that 800Mhz and 2.6Ghz will be available for 4G till late 2013 or more likely 2014 giving EE a huge advantage.

Reading through the Ofcom document I note there are arguments about the New iPhone™ may support 4G LTE on 1800Mhz but it appears to be speculative even through the redactions.

There is a whole Annex dedicated to the possibility that if the New iPhone™ did support 4G LTE on 1800Mhz it may be part of an exclusivity agreement with Orange and T-Mobile.


The next generation iPhone (iPhone 5) is expected to launch in 2012 and we note the suggestion of some stakeholders that the iPhone 5 will launch with []. We understand the arguments put forward by [] and [] about the significance of an iPhone 5 being launched with []. We note that if the iPhone 5 is released in 2012 with [.]

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org.uk/bin.../statement.pdf

Bet this will go ahead regardless.

*keeps watchful eye for new Android/iOS 4G enabled phones launching*

I already have a 4G enabled phone having got my hands on a HTC Evo 3D. Sorry, just a bit of a boast.

Orange and T-Mobile brands to be dropped in October for new customers and for everyone else in March 2013.

What are they going to call themselves?

Everything Everywhere

Did think that but thought it might have been too obvious

It's a rubbish name for a network to be fair.

Doens't quite roll off the tongue like Orange. I'll still call it Orange. But then I sometimes call T-Mobile One2One still...

Vodafone was more forthright, saying it was "shocked" at Ofcom's ruling.

"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," a company spokesperson said.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-19328653

If the roles were reversed Vodafone wouldn't have given it a second thought and would have gone for an early launch.

They have 3G on 900MHz. Did we kick off? No.

Sour grapes anyone?

The new Qualcomm chip does support 1800 and as Asia and Europe all have a few 1800 LTE networks in operation I'd say it's a sure bet for it to be present in the new iPhone. Exclusive to EE unlikely.. Only UK network able to use 4G on the new iPhone yes but not an exclusive. Lose far too many customers, Apple has already moved away from one network exclusives.

So most phones will show EE as the operator then? That will be confusing for some when its on Egde lol ie EE E

If I'm right in what I've heard most of the 4G infstructure for EE is in place.. A few things to do but nearly ready to go!!

All networks have 3G so its not that big a deal. Getting higher speeds using 4G LTE with a year or 2's advantage is another matter all together.

I'm starting my stopwatch for how long it takes for jokes regarding poor performance and poor coverage start.

Really asking for trouble with that name.

Took the words right out of my mouth.

It's nice to see Ofcom actually stepping aside and letting a company that wants to push forward do so.

Since when was the Evo 3D 4G compatible?

Not sure what to think of this to be fair. I'm on Orange T-Mobile and I'm perfectly happy with how things are now. I've been with Orange for years and for both them and T-Mobile to be dropped baffles me. Between the two there's a lot of brand value, and it's being replaced by 'Everything Everywhere' It's not catchy enough.

Only good thing to come out of it is the 4G coverage.

Its very likely it would support it as one of the Canadian carriers is also planning on rolling out LTE On an additional frequency band and as you say most of Europe and Asia uses it.

Are they saying Three might be getting 4G too (pre auction)?

http://www.engadget.com/2012/08/21/t...where-sell-4g/