As if 4G wasn't complicated enough, Orange and T-Mobile are planning to create a new brand name for its next-generation data network coming later this year.
Orange and T-Mobile's parent company Everything Everywhere denies it will merge Orange and T-Mobile, telling us that instead "we are planning to launch a new brand in the UK later this year. This new brand will sit alongside our existing brands Orange and T-Mobile."
It's bad enough we've had to get used to the awful name Everything Everywhere without throwing yet another brand name into the pot. Whatever it's called, the 4G network will use portions of Orange and T-Mobile's existing airwaves for LTE, which will speed up data to your phone and reach a wider audience than the current 3G network.
Vodafone, O2 and Three are up in arms about the plan, with Vodafone telling us Ofcom's decision is "shocking" and "bizarre". No wonder they're annoyed: the other networks have to wait until Ofcom auctions off earmarked 4G spectrum later this year before they can fire up their own 4G networks in 2013.
One big advantage of Orange and T-Mobile's head start is that they're first in line if the iPhone 5 turns out to pack 4G, as widely expected. The new iPad connects with LTE in the US, suggesting the next iPhone will as well -- but different countries use different frequencies, so a 4G phone in one country may not be 4G in another.
Apple tends to build one phone for the whole world rather than putting in different chips for different countries, but the 1800MHz spectrum to be used by Everything Everywhere is also used for 4G in Australia, Asia and Europe -- which means Apple is more likely to include support for that frequency, perhaps using one of Qualcomm's chips that plays nice with multiple bands.
If not, we'd be stuck with speeds akin to the new iPad -- check out our guide to data on the new iPad in the UK for more information.
Meanwhile Everything Everywhere has announced an agreement with Three to sell a portion of 1800MHz spectrum to the network, doubling Three's capacity. The sale was required by European merger watchdogs.
Is 4G already too confusing? Should Orange, T-Mobile or Everything Everywhere brand names be ditched? And will the iPhone 5 be 4G? Tell me your thoughts in the comments or on our Facebook page.
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Comments 8
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FaisalMiah 21 August, 2012 19:58
I hope EE have unlimited data tariffs when they roll out 4G.
anonymous 22 August, 2012 09:44
So EE will create a new 4G brand so does that mean existing Orange and T-Mobile customers will not see a 4G benefit unless they sign up for a contract with the newly created 4G company? That is what it sounds like too me.
pinkllama 22 August, 2012 10:19
i'm confused..
what are 3 going to do with 1800mhz spectrum when they only use 2100mhz?
damien2501 22 August, 2012 11:43
Like everything, 4G will be used to rip us off here in britain. It will be at a ridiculous price and probably not that much faster than 3G. Personally i dont see the need for it, 3G is plenty fast enough to stream videos and music at very good quality anyway
anonymous 22 August, 2012 13:03
Whether the iPhone 5 will be compatible with 4G 1800mhz or not will be immaterial. If EE suddenly wave a 100000 handset order under Samsung or HTC's nose then they will have an exclusive for well over 12 months. Data will be unlimited as EE have massive over capacity of their 1800mhz network and now this crazy decision has been made they'll want massive numbers of new customers. And what better way to do it than instead of ploughing it into licence fees and a new network, give it to customers to do the competition a severe blow.
anonymous 22 August, 2012 13:09
Desire (not spam-the new name!)
anonymous 23 August, 2012 15:28
I heard the new network will be called the 'Brilliant' network. We'll soon see, I suspect they'll launch it very soon!
anonymous 23 August, 2012 15:33
One of their domains, currently goes right over to Everything Everywhere:
www.brilliant-network.net