Mobile group Everything Everywhere, which represents Orange and T-Mobile in the UK, has claimed that it's "ready to roll out" the country's first commercial superfast 4G (LTE) Mobile Broadband service in 2012 but only if it gets the necessary regulatory approval from Ofcom in the Spring.

The UK communications regulator, Ofcom, is already under direction from the EU to allow the use of Long Term Evolution ( LTE ) technology over the existing 1800MHz spectrum band. Everything Everywhere put in an official request to re-purpose this for 4G last month (here).

Meanwhile the group, which will continue its joint 800MHz based 4G trials in Cornwall with BT (details), has also announced the UK's first 4G (LTE) trials over 1800MHz in Bristol from April 2012. This is an understandable choice as 1800MHz has always been better suited to urban and suburban environments (works well in buildings).


Earlier this week Everything Everywhere also revealed that it planned to roll out a nationwide HSPA+ (3.5G) network (up to 21Mbps), which they claim "will provide 50% faster data speeds" to their customers. Apparently the HSPA+ upgrade is already deployed across 60% of the network and will be completed in Q3 2012. Both Three (3) and O2 have also been busy making similar upgrades.

It's worth remembering that existing customers will need HSPA+ compatible hardware to see any benefit. A bigger problem exists for 4G, where there is a distinct lack of supporting handsets and dongles (USB Modems). Orange might be able to launch the service in 2012 (unlike 800MHz, the 1800MHz does not require an auction) but the lack of compatible kit would carry some risk.

Over the next 3 years both Orange and T-Mobile aim to invest more than £1.5bn to improve network speed, reliability and coverage (i.e. about £1.4m being invested every day).