UK 4G Uptake Hits Two Million

The UK’s mobile network operator EE, has reported that two million customers took up 4G contracts before the end of 2013, double its one million target.
The company, which was the first mobile network operator in the UK to offer 4G services, reached one million 4G customers in September which was their target for the end of 2013. EE with has an ongoing marketing campaign featuring actor Kevin Bacon, as well as a substantial increase in the number of its stores across the UK, saw its 4G customer base double within 4 months.

EE has said that its 4G customer base is now the fastest growing outside of South Korea, where 4G has already overtaken 3G. According to the UK regulator Ofcom, EE offers internet speeds which are up to seven times fast than 3G.

EE’s 4G network is currently available in 160 towns and cities across the UK with coverage due to exceed 70% of the UK population in the first months of this year. Despite this upsurge in EE’s 4G customer base over a short period of time, the 4G network still accounts for a small amount of its customer base at around 8% out of a base of 25 million.

The UK’s other major mobile network operators, Vodafone and O2 are substantially behind in a market which has been dominated by EE since October 2012. Vodafone and O2 have only just begun to offer 4G services due to them having to wait for the end of the 4G spectrum auction last February. EE also has a significant advantage in terms of coverage, with 4G masts in 160 towns and cities and therefore able to offer their services to around 44 million people. Vodafone and O2, which have almost identical coverage because of a mast sharing agreement, cover just 18 million people.

With 4G and other mobile technologies constantly being developed, the mobile industry has already become the fastest growing in history, and it is showing no sign of slowing down!