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Old 07-02-2014, 21:23
davybhoy
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Must be a different rollout strategy to here then, they don't use combiners in Edinburgh!
I think that's part of their Cornerstone mast share agreement and nothing to do with 4G.
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Old 07-02-2014, 21:42
qasdfdsaq
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Yeah, that's what I meant.

Cornerstone shared sites don't use combiners here.
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Old 07-02-2014, 22:07
bigpete15
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Anyone know about O2's 4G for N.I.? I told my friend that I believed it to be very late this year if not next yeah and 1 of his other friends has commented that he was told Vodafone 4G by April, according to Vodafone. Are O2 and Vodafone planning 4G for over here this year?

On a different note, the amount of 3G combiners I have seen being installed over here beside O2 and Vodafone masts is phenomenal!
Most of the O2 and voda street pole sites here in NI are 2100mhz 3G only, some also have 2g at 900mhz.
The additional small cabinet being added in a number of locations is for the addition of 3G at 900mhz

4g on O2 and voda won't happen this year in NI.
They would need planning applications for new cabinets and antennas and so far there hasn't been any, typical time for processing planning application here is 3 to 4 months, at least the same again for getting equipment installed, upgraded power supplies & back haul if required. Then setup and testing before going live
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Old 08-02-2014, 00:49
qasdfdsaq
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Hmm, if they're only just adding 3G900 now then it would seem they don't intend on bringing 4G there anytime soon, given that the 4G kit also handles 3G900 and would make those new cabs redundant.

That said I'm not so sure about the timescales. Not all sites need planning applications and the ones that do are mostly fast-tracked since the sites are already there and it's a minor alteration. Many can just be done under permitted development here (not sure if different in NI). Even the ones I've seen requiring full planning applications I've seen granted in less than 2 months from submission and the site going live less than 3 months later, though there are some still lingering after 8-10 months.
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Old 08-02-2014, 10:54
bigpete15
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Full planning applications are required for all telecoms equipment in NI, even BT had to put in full applications for FTTC installations
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Old 08-02-2014, 14:07
qasdfdsaq
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Ah, my bad. Maybe that's why you guys always seem to get delayed :P
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Old 08-03-2014, 02:42
qasdfdsaq
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Coverage checker has been updated on O2. 4G coverage in the Scottish central belt now extends most of the way between Edinburgh and Glasgow:
http://qasdfdsaq.com/images/coverage...scot-14-02.png
Seems to be overtaking EE now:
http://qasdfdsaq.com/images/coverage...scot-14-02.png

Also made a montage (excuse the crappy mspaint copy-paste job) of coverage since launch:
August '13-ish
September '13-ish
October '13-ish
November '13-ish
December '13-ish
January '14-ish
February '14-ish

Also 3G coverage has improved a little too:


August '13-ish
February '14-ish
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Old 10-03-2014, 00:18
Liam_777
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I used Vodafone 4G in Glasgow today, I didn't think I would notice much difference from my usual 3G, but you really do notice, everything is just instant. Very impressed.
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Old 10-03-2014, 01:56
Aye Up
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I have to admit where Vodafone 4G is available, it seems to be a very robust delivery. Was in the city centre last week and still achieving speeds in excess of 30mbps which is surprising given how congested manchester becoming in the working week. I know not everyone is on 4G yet but their coverage is certainly much better organised than the MBNL operators. From when it launched in Manchester 4G on vodafone covered most areas within the M60 and those adjacent to it. I have seen coverage expand to my home town in the northeast when I thought that wouldn't see it for another 12 months or so.

I think comparatively I prefer the rollout being done by O2/Vodafone as its more consistent and on a wide basis for the areas they target it doesn't feel piecemeal where as that of MNBL operators does. Exmaple being when London got 4G from O2/Voda it was generally quite ubiquitous for those inside the M25 and like wise in Manchester within the M60 however when I look at the coverage maps for MBNL specifically of Three its patchy and rather poor. I know the latter has only launched and maybe one shouldn't be quick to judge but I feel they going the wrong way about it by launching just a handful of cells per city rather than embark on upgrading a whole area and launching in one go.

Comparing speeds against the MBNL operators I have found the beacon/cornerstone setup to provide better mor consistent speeds and stability. Make of that what you will
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Old 10-03-2014, 02:15
enapace
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I do agree with you there I think I do prefer Vodafone/O2 rollout style. Specially compared to Three's which is quite blotchy like you say Beacon might be in less places but where it is certainly very consistent if it starts coming to more areas I go I will certainly consider Vodafone. Lack of 3G is major let down for me don't really need unlimited data 3-4GB a month would last me which since 4G launch all networks provide now would likely get a 5GB or something like that to give me that little safety net.

Slightly odd thing about Vodafone is fact last place I heard that got 4G switched on was Newcastle in November not heard of anywhere else since then. But O2 have switched on a fair few places since then. Anyone know a reason why that is? Only thing I can think of is that Vodafone is trying expand its Fibre network and that is reason for delays.
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Old 10-03-2014, 05:27
daclick
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You're correct in sating you've not heard of anywhere since after Newcastle for vodafone, I don't know why but imo poor show on there part
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Old 10-03-2014, 06:34
qasdfdsaq
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There have been some areas switched on on VF since November, Livingston & Broxburn for example. But those might still be getting counted as "Edinburgh and surrounding areas".

Coverage has also expanded quite a bit around other similar areas, e.g. Newcastle and Manchester, but on the whole I have seen O2 switch on more new sites that Vodafone haven't, than the other way round.

What I find odd is Vodafone had Grangemouth showing on their coverage map - but not their future coverage map from about the same time EE had, but now they've removed it from both.
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Old 10-03-2014, 11:01
enapace
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Yeah it seems like at moment they increasing capacity and improving coverage in areas they have just odd that it has been four months since anywhere new was switched on. Where as O2 has done same thing but you can see they have turned on in new places.

I did hear last month that Aberdeen was getting a lot of attention from Vodafone not sure if that is true but it might be somewhere that coverage is turned on soon.

Still kind of hoping that Staffordshire/Cheshire gets some 4G by end of year would certainly be a deciding point on if I choose stay with Three or move to Vodafone. Am at least expecting Derby to have been switched on by summer.
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Old 10-03-2014, 13:36
qasdfdsaq
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I don't know if it's a deliberate commercial decision but Three seem to be doing areas without O2/VF 4G coverage. The southeast of England for example, has several cities with O2 4G but none on 3 while the southwest of England and Wales has several on 3 but none on O2.
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Old 10-03-2014, 14:56
qasdfdsaq
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I did hear last month that Aberdeen was getting a lot of attention from Vodafone not sure if that is true but it might be somewhere that coverage is turned on soon.
Sometime within the next 3-6 months I expect. They seem to be about 7-8 months behind Edinburgh, which launched in November.
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Old 10-04-2014, 00:38
Kierankay
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Anybody got photos of the full maps for O2 and Vodafones recently updated 4G coverage checker?
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Old 10-04-2014, 11:36
qasdfdsaq
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Was gonna generate one yesterday but their coverage checker was broken at the time...
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Old 10-04-2014, 12:36
gardensleeper
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My understanding of the Project Beacon rollout is that 800mhz 4g coverage from O2 and Vodafone will be identical. So any announcements about one network covering a city before another will simply be for marketing purposes, presumably an arrangement between the two operators.

If Vodafone in particular follow through with their originally planned investments, we should see a very good network delivered in the next couple of years - they've got bags of 2600 to play with, as well as their own fibre backhaul.

I'm currently a 3 customer. This time next year I could be very tempted to switch. It'll be good to see Beacon begin to give MBNL some serious competition.

Anyone know when Voda plan to start using their 2600?
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Old 10-04-2014, 12:38
qasdfdsaq
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My understanding of the Project Beacon rollout is that 800mhz 4g coverage from O2 and Vodafone will be identical. So any announcements about one network covering a city before another will simply be for marketing purposes, presumably an arrangement between the two operators.
This, and any peculiarities that arise from their backhaul arrangements.

Anyone know when Voda plan to start using their 2600?
Yet to confirm this myself but people have said they are already deploying for several months now in some cities.
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Old 10-04-2014, 13:19
uno
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Around Leicestershire there are a number of masts that have been upgraded for 3 or 4 months with new masts and cabinets for both O2 and Vodafone 4 G. but at present only O2 are broadcasting a 4G signal from these masts according to my copnatct in Vodafone network control team this is due to waiting for Vodafone fibre backhaul to be installed which means running new fibre right from the North of the county through the city centre to the South side. This is obviously a large job as ofetn means digging road and footpaths along with manpower to do it all.
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Old 10-04-2014, 14:42
gardensleeper
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Around Leicestershire there are a number of masts that have been upgraded for 3 or 4 months with new masts and cabinets for both O2 and Vodafone 4 G. but at present only O2 are broadcasting a 4G signal from these masts according to my copnatct in Vodafone network control team this is due to waiting for Vodafone fibre backhaul to be installed which means running new fibre right from the North of the county through the city centre to the South side. This is obviously a large job as ofetn means digging road and footpaths along with manpower to do it all.
When you hear of examples like this (and I'm sure there are many more), it's amazing they didn't go for the obvious extra cost savings of a full RAN with shared backhaul
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Old 10-04-2014, 15:16
qasdfdsaq
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Yeah but Vodafone had to do *something* with that C&W fibre network they splashed out for. They do try to distinguish themselves as the only operator in the UK in control of their own, national fibre backhual network.
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Old 10-04-2014, 16:16
Three
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Yeah but Vodafone had to do *something* with that C&W fibre network they splashed out for. They do try to distinguish themselves as the only operator in the UK in control of their own, national fibre backhual network.
Though it's not really a valid claim, not all of their sites or even a large number of them use their own fibre network for backhaul.
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Old 10-04-2014, 17:08
qasdfdsaq
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No, but they do own their own fibre network that is "national" as in not local/regional. Nobody else owns any (EE "fibre" broadband IIRC is BT wholesale)

But it's really a marketing claim more than anything. As with spectrum, owning a lot doesn't necessarily mean anything in terms of good service.
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Old 10-04-2014, 17:16
japitts
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My understanding of the Project Beacon rollout is that 800mhz 4g coverage from O2 and Vodafone will be identical. So any announcements about one network covering a city before another will simply be for marketing purposes, presumably an arrangement between the two operators.
Ultimately yes... but there are areas at the moment where L800 has been deployed under Beacon but for various reasons, only one operator is currently "live".

I'm currently a 3 customer. This time next year I could be very tempted to switch. It'll be good to see Beacon begin to give MBNL some serious competition.
Absolutely right to competition being a good thing...
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