Britain's first 4G trial begins

Around 200 residents of St Newlyn East and South Newquay are participating in the trial, which is being conducted by Everything Everywhere and BT.
 

The new network is based on the LTE (Long Term Evolution) standard, also known as 4G. Triallists have been given special equipment to allow them to use the network as their main home broadband, as well as on the move.
 

In laboratory tests, the technology is capable of delivering internet access at up to 150Mbps downstream, but in reality it is expected to offer around 10Mbps initially. That still represents a significant improvement on 3G, which according to Ofcom offers an average of only 1.5Mbps.
 

Everything Everywhere and BT are touting the trial as evidence that 4G could be used to deliver better broadband speed to rural areas, as part of the government’s broadband strategy. A subsidy pot of £530 million is to be handed out between now and 2015.
 

“BT is committed to working with the government and using technology innovation to find ways of addressing the remaining challenges within the UK were there are still broadband ‘not-spots’,” said Neil Stagg, CEO of BT Wholesale.
 
 
BT’s fixed line network upgrade programme is scheduled to cover only around 70 per cent of premises, with a focus on densely-populated areas, where the return on investment will be highest.
 
Britain is some way behind other countries on 4G rollout. In the US, the Sprint network is already offering services commercially and announced this week it will “aggressively” expand coverage over the next two years.
 
4G networks will operate in the 800MHz spectrum band. Ofcom plans to auction national licences in the first half of next year.
Telegraph