4G - What the hell is going on?

[PJ1200]

I would like to ask people that are far more clued up on this (and that includes WHF mods/editors) what the deal is with all this?

Here are the facts as I currently see them:

The iPhone 5 is supporting 4G - and this includes some of the spectrum the UK will be using (I understand there will be a number of 'spectrums' that each network provider will use).

I've heard that it will support only the specturm that Everything Everywhere (EE) will be broadcasting and that any of the other spectrums that will be used as/when O2/VF/Three bid for the remainder will not be accessible to the iPhone 5.

Is that correct??? Is it likely to mean that if you are on a 2 year iPhone 5 contract with any of the 3 providers above, you're stuck to getting any 4G benefit? Or, will it be a simple case of a 'software update' for Apple to release to allow the antena in the phone to access the extra spectrums?

I would also like some considered opinions on why, or rather, how EE have managed to gain this obvious competetive advantage over the other 3 providers in this set up? If the above is correct, to me, EE have a complete monopoly on the iPhone 5 as it stands.

Now I understand that originally O2 had the iPhone for a number of months before other networks, but this was 'back in the day' and now it has been made available for all networks.

Am I missing something? 4G is going to be a massive step forward (albeit a belated one compared to other countries) for the UK... committing to a new piece of tech like the iPhone 5 when you can't use that seems a pointless exercise!!

Thoughts please boys and girls - I'm ready to be educated!!

 

[cheeseboy]

3 did exactly the same when the 3g network was launched, so absolutely no difference there. It's all about greasing palms as it were.

as for if the iphone 5 will work with any of them properly, who knows, apple have already had their knuckles wrapped about advertising 4g compatibility when it wasn't compatible...

 

[Paul.]

The 5 is compatible with most sensible spectrums, unfortunately our networks are not.

If you are on Orange or Tmobile (soon to become EE) you will have 4G LTE if you live in a large metropolitan area. Not sure what the roll out times are.

If you are on 02, the best you can hope for is Dual Cell HSDPA which although not true 4G, is still pretty snazzy.

If you are on Vodafone, the best you can hope for is HSPA+ (same as 4S) which is not too shabby. Even on HSPA+ the processor power and improved antennae design should give you a noticeable browsing boost.

Apple were naughty with the iPad, but they seemed to have learned from that mistake. Any disappointment will be in the carriers hands now.

This is a good article:

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2012/09/13/4g_iphone/

 

[Clare Newsome]

And it looks like you can't sign straight up for EE 4G either, according to this news story

 

[AnotherJoe]

I've heard that it will support only the specturm that Everything Everywhere (EE) will be broadcasting and that any of the other spectrums that will be used as/when O2/VF/Three bid for the remainder will not be accessible to the iPhone 5.

You are 100% correct. The Iphone5 will not work on the 800Mhz +2.6Ghz LTE frequencies that are due to be rolled out across the UK & Europe as standard, so will only work on certain networks eg EE.

(Still, its better than the new Ipad which is not LTE compatible at all in UK & Europe).

Android LTE phones on the other hand are compatible with the 800Mhz +2.6Ghz frequencies.

 

[Paul.]

I've heard that it will support only the specturm that Everything Everywhere (EE) will be broadcasting and that any of the other spectrums that will be used as/when O2/VF/Three bid for the remainder will not be accessible to the iPhone 5.

You are 100% correct. The Iphone5 will not work on the 800Mhz +2.6Ghz LTE frequencies that are due to be rolled out across the UK & Europe as standard, so will only work on certain networks eg EE.

(Still, its better than the new Ipad which is not LTE compatible at all in UK & Europe).

Android LTE phones on the other hand are compatible with the 800Mhz +2.6Ghz frequencies.

Which will come first, Vodafone having a solid LTE network or iPhone 6? I bet one Cadburys Creme egg its the iPhone 6...

 

[Tonestar1]

I'm still waiting on vodaphone coming up with a half decent 3G network.

On the upside when Voda and 02 are LTE ready Apple will no doubt release a newtork specific model like they did with the AT&T and Verizon.

 

[professorhat]

I'm still waiting on vodaphone coming up with a half decent 3G network.

I guess it depends which part of the country you're in, but I have no issues with it (south west London area), but even when I'm travelling to offices in and around Hemel and Reading, I generally get a good 3G signal.

 

[Tonestar1]

I'm still waiting on vodaphone coming up with a half decent 3G network.

I guess it depends which part of the country you're in, but I have no issues with it (south west London area), but even when I'm travelling to offices in and around Hemel and Reading, I generally get a good 3G signal.

Hi prof, long time no chat. Eh I suppose I'm being a little unfair. I'm just unlucky that when I was in London I couldn't get a signal in my flat (East London). Now I'm back in Glasgow, I can't get one in this flat either! It's usually not too bad when I'm out and about though.

 

[professorhat]

Indeed - hope things are good!

Actually, I had the exactly the same with O2 - moved to Surbiton and couldn't get a signal in my flat (had been fine in Croydon) and several other spots around the town. Other friends who've come to visit who were on O2 got the same as well, so looked like it was just a black spot on their network.

That's the thing really - you just have to look for the right network for your area. When you move, if it doesn't work, just have to hope you haven't got long left on your contract (one of the reasons I've now moved to a 30 day rolling PAYG SIM with Vodafone so I can move easily if I need to).

You could look at their Sure Signal device - my Dad uses it and it boosts his Vodafone signal out in the wilds of Lincolnshire.

 

[bigboss]

You could look at their Sure Signal device - my Dad uses it and it boosts his Vodafone signal out in the wilds of Lincolnshire.

I've got one. While the signal is excellent in the house, it's annoying that the signal remains poor in the vicinity! Every other network has a strong signal here.

I'll be moving to Giff Gaff when my contract runs out in a couple of months (thanks to Big Aura for the heads up!)

http://giffgaff.com/

 

[Tonestar1]

You could look at their Sure Signal device - my Dad uses it and it boosts his Vodafone signal out in the wilds of Lincolnshire.

I've got one. While the signal is excellent in the house, it's annoying that the signal remains poor in the vicinity! Every other network has a strong signal here.

I'll be moving to Giff Gaff when my contract runs out in a couple of months (thanks to Big Aura for the heads up!)

http://giffgaff.com/

Cheers. I would but I'm out of contract now so will be looking at moving to ee for an iphone 5 with LTE assuming the don't take the proverbial with the price plans.

 

[PJ1200]

You could look at their Sure Signal device - my Dad uses it and it boosts his Vodafone signal out in the wilds of Lincolnshire.

I've got one. While the signal is excellent in the house, it's annoying that the signal remains poor in the vicinity! Every other network has a strong signal here.

I'll be moving to Giff Gaff when my contract runs out in a couple of months (thanks to Big Aura for the heads up!)

http://giffgaff.com/

Cheers. I would but I'm out of contract now so will be looking at moving to ee for an iphone 5 with LTE assuming the don't take the proverbial with the price plans.

Which is may well do, given it has pretty much exclusivity of the '4G' network currently!!

The other networks of course will get the LTE sprectrum when they 'bid' for it next year. Just hope if I get an iPhone 5 on, say, an O2 contract, it will be easy to get the updated spectrum as and when they get it. No doubt these contracts will be on a 24 month term, so that is a long time to wait if you don't get decent 4G.

Also - as I understand it O2 has the best 3G coverage in London over any other network, but again, there will be spots where it is unavailable!

It would also appear that EE have not got the 4G network part up just yet due to some possible legal action... but I don't really know more than that... we'll have to wait and see.

 

[Paul.]

If you can afford to, buy an unlocked phone up front. It usually works out similar in cost, and you can move networks however you please.

 

[bigboss]

If you can afford to, buy an unlocked phone up front. It usually works out similar in cost, and you can move networks however you please.

In my experience, it actually works out cheaper to buy a phone upfront.

 

[ric71]

T mobile price plan £36 pm. 2000min, unlimited txt and Internet/data. Iphone5:16gig £109,32gig £216, 64gig £269.

 

[gowiththeflow]

It appears the iPhone 5 is initially being launched in three different versions, to suit the different networks, protocols and frequency bands in different markets.

One of these versions is the model being released in the UK in a couple of weeks time.

While all of the major UK carriers will be able to offer the iPhone 5, as we know LTE will only be available on the newly-christened 4GEE network from the start, with Three also likely to use that spectrum (once they get the okay from Ofcom) sometime next year.

Vodafone and O2 will have to wait for the forthcoming Ofcom spectrum auction for the use of the 800MHz (Band 20) and 2.6GHz (Band 7) frequencies -- neither of which are currently found on any of Apple's three different iPhone 5 models.

This is a problem in Europe and Asia, where LTE networks already make use of the 2.6GHz frequency band.

However, Apple have followed up an initial phone launch with additional network-specific models before, so there's a fairly good chance there will be another model at a later date.

No doubt when the other UK 4G LTE bands become operational, either new network specific-versions will be released, or the UK model will be updated to carry the additional bands. My understanding is that's still sometime away though, so it's likely the iPhone 6 will be out by then and the Galaxy S3 will also have long been replaced.

:wave:

 

[BenLaw]

T mobile price plan £36 pm. 2000min, unlimited txt and Internet/data. Iphone5:16gig £109,32gig £216, 64gig £269.

Thanks Ric, the prices on the other networks are similar but the unlimited data is a big bonus. Doesn't include tethering tho, not sure if the others do.

 

[AnotherJoe]

A mere £1080 for the 32Gb Iphone 5 for 24months.

Only £500 more than an htc one x on the same plan, with its 4.7 inch screen and a processor x2 over the iphone5, with animated widgets, 3dmaps etc.

Get real guys. Wake up to the fact Apple is trying to fleece u with out of date hardware & OS.

 

[bigboss]

I've got HTC Sensation & my OH has iPhone 4S. Consistently, the iPhone shows a stronger network & does not drop calls or lose signal like my HTC does. There's a lot more to a phone than just specs.

I'll never buy an HTC again. My next phone will probably be a Lumia 920.

 

[BenLaw]

A mere £1080 for the 32Gb Iphone 5 for 24months.

Only £500 more than an htc one x on the same plan, with its 4.7 inch screen and a processor x2 over the iphone5, with animated widgets, 3dmaps etc.

Get real guys. Wake up to the fact Apple is trying to fleece u with out of date hardware & OS.

Where do you get £1080 from? I paid much less than half that up front for 64gb iPhone 5 on a 24 month contract, and £10 p/m less on my contract. As posted elsewhere, this works out cost neutral over the course of the contract when one takes into account the resale value of my existing iPhone 4, which I imagine holds it's value much better than the non-apple competition.

 

[AnotherJoe]

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/iphone/?WT.mc_id=OFF_TMUK_V_pre-order_iphone5&WT.tsrc="Vanity"

41*24+149=£1133

(I didnt add the last word in that link - thats pure coincidence

)

 

[Paul.]

http://www.t-mobile.co.uk/shop/iphone/?WT.mc_id=OFF_TMUK_V_pre-order_iphone5&WT.tsrc="Vanity"

41*24+149=£1133

(I didnt add the last word in that link - thats pure coincidence

)

21*12+599=£851 for the same tariff on sim only and buying the phone out right. But bearing in mind a 32gb iPhone 4s which was released a year a go would sell for £350, yet the 32GB One X is selling on ebay for £250 even though it was barely released six months a go? Wonder what its resale after a whole year would be...

 

[Paul.]

btw, thanks for the link... Didn't realise Tmobile had no fair usage policy. I may switch 🙂

 

[AnotherJoe]

£851 is only for 12months - make it 24 months like the other quoted prices and its £1103

A used 32gb iphone 4s is £245 on ebay - so thats dropped £354 before the new ones even out - thats depreciation!

be careful with T-Mobile. one part of their site says no fair use policy but then there's this

http://support.t-mobile.co.uk/help-and-support/index?page=support&cat=FAIR_USE_POLICY&tab=0&id=FA968