Thursday 21 February 2013

The Situation With 4G Mobile UK

By Beau Harrold


Mobile coverage has covered the planet these days, especially in developed nations like the UK. Brits were the first to get 3G networks nearly 10 years ago, but now they lag behind much of Europe and the US regarding 4G mobile UK. This is not just a case of getting it done, however. The problems with the roll-out of 4G networks have caused stopping and slowing in the efforts to bring the UK up to speed.

Surveys done in the UK show that a large majority of adults advocate increasing and creating 4G mobile coverage in more regions. Alluding to concerns such as keeping up with business rivals in other parts of the country, 82% of the adults polls back the creation of new 4G coverage. Nevertheless, whether the surveyed population were aware of the potential issues involved is uncertain.

4G simply means 4th generation. At the moment, 4G seems to mean the bandwidth at 800 and 2100Mhz frequencies. These are the best frequencies for the purposes of mobile providers. However, the 800Mhz band is significantly better at building penetration and distance than the 2100Mhz band, but is already being utilised by several other technologies.

One possible problem relates to television signal boosters. If a 4G tower goes in near someone with a television signal amplifier, the signal could be disrupted and that household could fail to get access to free channels. This could have an effect on up to 10% of the population, which is millions of people. Filters that endeavour to inhibit this can be used, but they are not fully effective.

Pay TV could also be affected in some occurrences. As these are not free services, the companies would likely adapt and supply the service in some other manner. Nevertheless, the companies that own the rights to supply paid television are unhappy with the idea, and have been leading some serious opposition to the roll-out of 4G in its present form.

Some sharing of the spectrum has been fulfilled by auctioning off the preferred wavelengths. Companies that have an interest in using them put up capital to 'own' the rights to that wavelength. Most of the competition for 4G airspace has actually been between mobile providers. A few companies give the appearance of holding back hoping that several in-progress court cases will be resolved.

Trials are underway by several major UK mobile suppliers, but they do not use the spectrum that the subject of such heated debate. Some frequencies are superior at delivering greater speeds than others, and some of these frequencies cover further distances and penetrate buildings at differing efficiencies. This has caused intense competition for the 'best' frequencies.

It seems that 4G will be coming to the UK, but it sure seems like it's slow getting here. For the moment, the large companies are fighting it out in a war of court dates, business deals and auctions. 4G mobile UK may cause a few short-term problems, but most people are for the introduction, which will offer greater capabilities in the long term.




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