Yes and no - this is the 1800mhz spectrum that they are being forced to sell as part of their merger way back when. It's no suprise that Three are the buyers.

That's what I thought, the headline is just a bit misleading then. But technically they could use it for 4G too?!

The sale of 1800Mhz doesn't have to be completed until mid-2013 - so if Three have indeed got the 1800Mhz, their head start (if any at all) on the auction will be marginal at best.

I've just taken out a full monty sim only with t mobile which will run out August next year. How do I fare now that the t-mobile brand will be dropped in march?

The Ofcom document had noted that EE offered Three some level of access to LTE on 1800MHz as an attempt to gain their support during the process. Most people had assumed that would be an interim roaming deal of some sort, it's quite surprising that they're buying the spectrum.

That raises questions of whether Three will be able to use it for LTE. It'd be hard for them to say no to Three if they've allowed the far more dominant EE to do it.

Your entire existence will be erased from the universe.

In reality, probably very little. You're still going to pay the same amount and get the same service.

Eventually, they might change or merge services and branding (e.g. on your bill or their website).

Update....

Contrary to what I said earlier, Orange and T Mobile are staying put. A new third brand will be launched to sit alongside.

I assume the other two will then eventually be merged into it?

Because the only thing better than two parts of the same company competing with one another is three parts of the same company competing with one another...?

For 'Everything Everywhere' as a additional brand I suggest "Dogs Bolloxs"

It basically says the same thing.


Alternatively, "Magik Mushrooms". An allusion to the masts that with be sprouting in dark places without hope, school buildings etc etc.

Highly speculative as EE will sell the 1800MHz spectrum they have available to whoever bids most for it and that could be any current operator or a new entrant like BT, Virgin Media or Sky.

I don't think any deal has been done and when it is it will take some time for the buyer to provision the service so EE will still have a considerable start on any others entering the market with LTE.

Yes, but as they are in advanced talks with Three and lets face it, they would have the most to gain from access to this spectrum I would say its quite likely they will end up with it.

Yes, and EE will probably think that they're better off selling it to the smaller network, rather than either of the other two big boys.

The main problem is Everything Everywhere will have a huge lead over its rivals. They will be able to do a quick launch this year with existing network infrastructure. Low cost easy upgrade.

With 4G on 800Mhz and 2.6Ghz the networks will have to build a whole new network from scratch. New masts or physical upgrades to existing masts. This will take years to do and cost a lot of money.

Everything Everywhere will have 4G all to itself for up to 18 months to 2 years and roll out by the other networks will be painfully slow and initially concentrate on areas that have excellent 3G coverage. Where as Everything Everywhere will be able to roll out 4G to even rural areas in a short space of time.

Why is that? 3 have been the most disruptive company in the UK market for years so they are probably the least preferable to sell spectrum to as they are the most likely to reduce margins for every operator in an attempt to gain market share quickly. EE will want to make some margin from LTE as a premium product and that will be more difficult with 3 as competition than with any others.

HWL 3's parent company have a very solid reason to buy the spectrum to expand their data proposition and have the cash to spend but they have been outbid in other markets like Italy for LTE spectrum so I doubt if anything can be considered a certinty currently.

Is there even a market for 4th Generation? What's the killer app that will get me hooked on to it?

I text mostly on my phone and maybe a bit of Facebook, which seems fast enough for me. I am think that this could be an over-hyped white elephant.

I doubt there even has to be a market for it, as such. I mean, when people flock to buy the new iPhone, then they'll be using EE's 4G network.

I suspect people won't really realise their on 4G, much like I doubt most people even know their on 3G when they're using their iPhone on the train or sat in a waiting room.

The market is probably to compete with fixed line networks for broadband and for mobile operators to provide services like streaming video offering Sky Go, Love Film and Netflix to mobile users.

from the announcements it sounds like 4G will only be available on this new Brand thats being created, so no 4G for Orange or T-Mob customers

can do all of this on 3G

the biggest benefit to LTE will be seen by businesses with users that work remotely and rely on a fast mobile data connection

If they could provide ultra fast internet for home use then they might be on to a winner!

Although somtimes my 3G phone is more like a 1G phone in its speed!

When will we be able to get 4G phones?

I hope I will be able to get one at the end of this year. I do not want to be locked into a 2 year contract with a phone that does not support 4G, just because 4G was launched a month after I got it.

3 have bought the 1800MHz bandwidth available from EE for an undisclosed sum BUT "EE is not required by the European Commission to clear that 1800MHz spectrum until October 2013 – so 3UK could have that spectrum in theory but would not be able to use it for another year", So WW have LTE all to themselves for at least a year.

http://www.telecoms.com/48383/3uk-ac...ait-to-use-it/

Looks like EE have played a shrewd game!

both O2 and Vodafone have 1800 spectrum though, would think they will try their damndest to refarm that spectrum from 2G to 4G

That just means that the deadline is October 2013. There's nothing stopping the sale happening before then and the purchaser of the spectrum using it.