BT has dropped the strongest hint yet that it will launch its own super-fast 4G mobile network in the not too distant future.
Group Chief Executive Ian Livingston told The Daily Telegraph that it was 'highly likely' when asked about his firm making inroads to 4G services, something that if it materialises will signal the telcoms giant's return to the UK mobile market after an absence of 11 years.
BT last competed in the mobile space in 2002 with its BT Cellnet arm, before the company relinquished ownership and O2 brand was formed. A move towards supplying 4G services would make sense considering the firm acquired £200m worth of 2600MHz spectrum in Ofcom's recent UK 4G bandwidth auction.
Livingston also intimated that BT's pans are likely to also involve the communications company's Home Hub Wi-Fi service with routers likely to get an upgrade to allow 4G phones access to the internet when indoors. It's thought that tie-up with a third party - most likely O2 - will ensure external coverage is of a high enough quality and depth.
'We can build effectively an internal, very cheap 4G network,' Livingston said. 'When you're out and about you just roam on to the [mobile operator] network.
EE was the first company to launch 4G in the UK with its EE service at the end of 2012. Earlier this year, a 4G auction took place, which essentially decided who would get which part of the 4G spectrum.
It's expected that other networks, including O2, Vodafone and Three will all roll out their 4G networks later this year, meaning plenty of choice for you if you're thinking of hitting high-speed mobile broadband.
by clareh via Featured Articles
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