The Battle over 4G Begins

The battle to attract customers to use new 4G mobile networks stepped up a notch today, as Vodafone and O2 both launched their versions of the service and Three said it would provide it for free to those prepared to wait for its offering to start in December.

 

Rival firm EE got a jump on the competition when they launched their “super-fast” 4G service in the UK last October, and are reported to be winning “hands down” when it comes to coverage.

But the other networks are now catching up,

O2 switching on the service for up to five million people in London, Leeds and Bradford, they also spent £550 million to stake its own claim to the lowest proportion of the spectrum.


Vodafone launched in parts of the capital.

Both say they plan to ultimately provide coverage to 98 per cent of the population, and by the end of this year they say they will be bringing 4G to London, Birmingham, Bradford, Coventry, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Leeds, Leicester, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Nottingham and Sheffield.

Vodafone said 4G – the so-called “fourth generation” of networks – will be able to provide data to smartphone users at a rate around six times faster than the current 3G services.
The company paid £802 million to secure the necessary mobile phone frequencies


Meanwhile, for those willing to wait until its service launches in December, mobile network Three said its customers would be offered 4G across all of its price plans – meaning no premium charges like those levied by its competitors.

Its said that while current pricing rates look pretty similar across the board, some consumers may now choose to “play the waiting game” to take advantage of Three's service when it launches at the end of the year in London, Birmingham and Manchester.

 

Phones 4u SPLIT with Three

Three and Phones 4u are terminating their trading relationship

Phones 4u will no longer offer Three contracts in its stores.The split is attributed by Phones 4u to Three’s strategy of upgrading customers directly.

A Phones 4u Assistant Manager said: ‘Three has a direct strategy with its customers, including Three performing all of its customer upgrades through its own channels.

'Phones 4u’s strategy is to build a strong relationship with its customers throughout their lives. We value long-term relationships with our network operator partners where we can add value to their mobile journeys.

'In light of our diverging strategies, Phones 4u and Three have decided to no longer maintain our relationship. Given the minimal level of connections in the last few years this will not impact either the Phones 4u or Three business.’

Three confirmed the split. A spokesman said: ‘We are not looking to trade with Phones 4u going forward.’