Superfast broadband to be rolled out across five Kent towns
The next
generation of superfast mobile broadband will be rolled out in
Kent from the spring.
Ashford, Maidstone, Tonbridge,
Sevenoaks and Tunbridge Wells have all been confirmed as the
first Kent towns to benefit from the 4G service, although only
4G-enabled phones can benefit.
The news that 4G mobile broadband
is on its way could also help the many rural areas across the
county still struggling with slow regular broadband
connections.
The service is currently only
available via Everything Everywhere (EE), but other operators such
as Three and O2 are poised to join in.
Download speeds with 4G will be
at least five to seven times faster than existing 3G networks,
which sparked the boom in smartphone use, and the 4G fibre
broadband is typically 10 times faster in homes and offices.
Superfast 4G will allow users to
instantly access the web while on the move on mobile phones,
download email attachments quickly, make high-quality video calls
and watch live TV on mobiles without buffering.
Other mobile networks have
requested that regulator Ofcom allow them to run 4G services over
airways they use for existing services.
An EE spokesperson said the
4G network will not only cover main towns, but also the rural areas
around them.
Olaf Swantee, chief executive
officer at EE, said: “We’re investing £1.5 billion in our network
to be the first company to offer mobile 4G in the UK, alongside the
biggest 3G network.
“Combined with our fibre
broadband and revolutionary service model we have a pioneering and
unique offer to customers across the UK – superfast speeds in the
home, superfast speeds on the move and expert service on nearly
every high street in Britain.”
09/02/13
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