The UK is a step closer to commercial 4G deployments following the start of the country’s first live trial
BT Wholesale and EverythingEverywhere have teamed up to test LTE technology in a 25 square km area with little or no broadband service at present. Some 200 customers – 100 wireless and 100 fixed – are involved in the trial, which utilizes 10MHz of 800MHz spectrum and will run until early 2012.
Nigel Stagg, chief executive of BT Wholesale, says the trial is essential to addressing broadband ‘not spots’ in the country. “The final 10% of the country is exceedingly difficult to reach with the available standard fixed line solutions. Our proof of concept trial…will test the capabilities and services that a shared fixed and mobile data network will support.”
UK regulator Ofcom is tipped to release 4G auction terms next month with a view to opening the sale in the second quarter of 2012. Its original 1Q target has slipped following threaths of a legal challenge by carriers over refarming spectrum.