EE 4G network expands to nine more UK cities

Posted on 1 Feb 2013 at 10:34, by Gareth Halfacree

EE has announced the completion of its Long Term Evolution (LTE) 4G mobile broadband rollout to nine more UK areas, bringing the total coverage to 45 per cent of the population.

Currently the only choice for mainstream 4G access in the UK, providing vastly improved download and upload speeds compared to previous-generation 3G mobile networks, EE's network is slowly but surely growing to encompass the UK. Today's announcement adds Chelmsford, Amersham, Bolton, Hemel Hempstead, Sunderland, Wolverhampton, Stockport, Sunderland and Sutton Coldfield to the list.

"As the first operator to bring 4G to the UK it is important that we make it accessible to as much of the population as possible as quickly as possible," EE's chief executive Olaf Swantee said of the announcement. "To be ahead of schedule and covering approximately 45% of the population within just 90 days of the launch is a great achievement for our network team. We continue to bring superfast mobile to more and more people, whether they’re using their devices outdoors or in their homes and offices, and to increase the speed and consistency of our 4G and 3G network across the UK."

While EE's 4G network is now available to more customers in more areas, the service remains expensive and restrictive: despite a recent boost to bandwidth limits and drops to pricing, the platform's top-end package still costs an impressive £46 a month for a SIM-only deal over two years for a total of 20GB - the equivalent of just four hours of solid downloading at the network's advertised speeds. At the end of the month, the 20GB offer will also disappear - leaving users with no option but an even more restrictive 8GB monthly limit for £41, which can be exhausted in an hour and a half.

As more mobile networks roll out their 4G services later this year, these prices and limits are likely to improve - but for now, only those who value speed above all else should consider a contract.

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