10,000 on 1 mast? I don't know the exact figure but I do know with only 10mhz of bandwidth it's definitely nowhere near 10,000.

About 400 per sector iirc, so on a normal 3 sector mast around 1200.

Is that 400 idle phones just switched on but doing nothing? Or 400 phones actively transferring data with the network?

It's been a while, but my memory seems to be remembering it's 200 active connections per 5Mhz per sector of a mast. So 10Mhz can handle 400 active connections per sector.

LTE is considerably more efficient than 3G.

It must have done more than that from the numbers there, unless that is coming from more than one site?

Well, we've recently had Vodafone refarm 1800 to 4G (from 2G), and even 3G to 4G (L2100), so I think spells the beginning of the transition to 4G only.

I wouldn't be at all surprised if Voda/O2 went to 10MHz 3G900, instead of 5MHz, but then, at the same time, some more 2100 going to 4G. So I can see 900 being predominantly 3G (with some 2G), and 2100 being predominantly 4G.

When 5G is around (possibly 2020, though I have no idea, that's just a guess; in fact I don't even know what 5G will be or what it is capable of), almost all phones will have 4G Calling, so as you mentioned the only thing you'd need is 4G. Though if phones had 5G support from the launch of 5G, and 5G had native voice capabilities (unlike 4G), wouldn't falling back to 4G be unneeded, unless 5G was a much higher frequency system?

For backward compatibility, given all devices support 2G, I'd imagine 2G being kept - even with a tiny amount of spectrum - for some time.

But obviously one day it will go. Just not soon. All those smart meters and vending machines will get upgraded at some point so it won't be a problem. Any switch off date will be given years in advance.

Not only will networks likely offer cheap upgrades to 4G devices, but I can even see going forward that networks will seek to upgrade people with 4G devices that don't support VoLTE.

Great video as always. I'm quite surprised that Vodafone have gone on to the route of L21 - I'd have thought that L18 (from G18) and L26 would have been more of a priority?

But then again, setting up 5MHz of L21 could start the overall transition of refarming all 2100MHz spectrum to 4G, leaving 900 to do the 3G (and 2G). Especially in areas that never got even U21, setting up L21 would give a nice capacity boost, to help keep the strain off L08.

Also, seeing as though O2 didn't get any 2600 spectrum, I'd have thought that O2 would be more keen on rolling out L18 and L21, with Vodafone sticking to L26 (and possibly L18)...

If I recall correctly, one of the posts on the EE thread suggested that, when the time allows (i.e. almost all devices are running LTE/VoLTE), 2G and 3G could both run on just 5MHz each. Maybe, something like that will happen, to give users plenty of time (whilst also noticing performance decreasing) to switch to 4G devices, before finally switching off the last bit of 3G, followed by the last bit of 2G?

I can't imagine that there are that many people (comparatively!) on smart meters - though I might be wrong. Though I do know that M2M would have to be migrated to 4G before a 2G switch off could occur.

Vodafone can still do dc-hspa and 4G2100, O2 would only be able to do either or, not both.

You'd definitely want to refarm 3G to 4G as 3G is crap compared to 4G. 2G is a great catch all. People with only a 3G phone will drop to GPRS or EDGE, but that's at least something (and upgraded sites offer good EDGE speeds IME) and nobody goes without service.

2G gets done last. As for smart meters and other M2M setups, I have no idea the numbers. I do know there are plans to switch to 4.5G with incredibly low latency, which will work for embedded communications that rely on real time data sending (tracking/positioning information for example). This should be happening right now, but how many old systems will get upgraded soon is something I wouldn't have a clue about.

What with all the planned upgrades to 2g and 3g masts appearing now and this move to switch some 3g 2100mhz over to 4g we might finally have some networks that can challenge and give EE a run for there money.. Hopefully by the end of 2016 we all should benefit from a much improved data and voice network, who knows maybe even those who live in Totnes!

Chagford at the top of Dartmoor planned I see. It's getting closer. Totnes is planned for 2029.

but then again EE own the most 2100 out of the lot so there is nothing stopping them also doing this if they feel a threat from the other networks. they would be able to refarm more and still have a pretty decent chunk, just my opinion not heard them remotely considering it but the way EE like to boast the uks best and most advanced LTE network i would not put it past them along the lines

Chagford Vo2 is being worked on this week!!!

Good news. The net is closing in on the South Hams. We cannot resist much longer. I imagine the CEO of VOD giving out a good 'Mwa Ha Ha' as he finally inflicts 4G upon we poor souls down here.

Chagford should give a good bit of coverage over the moor I expect.

PS: Please tweet any SW activity if you get wind of it. I know you do anyway. EE needs serious competition down here. Your tweets are appreciated!

Thanks mate I will do my best! Im often down your way so i always keep a special look out!

Vodafone has finally brought 3G (and 4G) to Raunds, Northamptonshire, according to the coverage map. It's a welcome addition to the old 2G mast that they used to use for Raunds.

Trouble is, the other networks (even O2) already had 3G here for a good few years... Oh well, at least all of the networks now have a data service running in Raunds!

Next up: Thrapston... No O2 or Vodafone 3G in Thrapston (O2 have 2G900 and 2G1800) but there is 3 and EE 3G. Nothing showing on the planned coverage map yet.

EE have so much capacity they can blow anyone else out the water, should they choose to refarm it, though don't forget they do have a sizable amount of users to support, many on small data plans that I'm sure will want bigger in the future, future wise only Vodafone if they actually choose to use it correctly can challenge them speed wise, but in the here and now, with what the majority need from a network outside our speed testing carrier aggregation forum world, most networks (with the exception of three who seem to think it's still 2010 and 3g is king) have enough capacity to perform you a good standard with 4g should they choose to refarm parts at the right time.

I think EE are in the pound seats for best network going forward, especially if they really take 800 seriously. It needs to be on full power and to hell with anyone who won't buy the hardware to use it. That could one awesome network.

But they do need a rival to keep them honest and I think VOD could be the only option. The 900 2G network is still pretty compelling in rural areas and will be for a while yet. So I think VOD can also build a great network if they continue as they are.

Then it comes down to data allowances, CS, deals etc. At the end of the day, competition is good for we, the consumer.

do the Hutchinson Jupiter masts that voda use support 2.6Ghz? or would they all have to be replaced again?.

Some of them can as long as the correct Antennas installed. I know of one at Canary Wharf that is 2600 enabled. (although it is one of the smaller mock timber types)

LTE2100 added to Hillington Ind, Glasgow on Vodafone. Its not any faster than LTE 800 though.

Hutchinson Jupiter Dual stacks often do; the top stack used for UG09, u21, L08 and then the lower stack for additional services like L26 or split user U21.

Single stacks can too with the appropriate antennas installed.

Paulker-thank you, I'll add to the site.