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Three and EE will offer 4G and 5G access across London Underground
Three and EE have reached a deal with infrastructure provider BAI Communications, which is currently building out a network across the Tube.
UK will ban mobile carriers from selling locked handsets in 2021
Mobile operators in the UK will be banned from selling smartphones locked to their networks, according to the regulator Ofcom.
The UK is cracking down on sales of fraudulent ‘anti-5G’ USB sticks
Police in the UK are attempting to stop the sale of a £283 USB key that claims to protect against the supposed dangers of 5G spectrum.
UK carriers would appreciate you not setting cell towers on fire
The arson attacks against 5G masts in the UK have become serious enough that carriers are joining together to put a stop to the incidents. EE, O2, Three and Vodafone have issued a joint statement both urging people not to set fire to cellular masts, threaten engineers or spread conspiracy theories falsely linking 5G to COVID-19. As the companies reiterated, cell networks are critical in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic.
UK plans to ban sales of locked mobile phones
The UK's communications regulator is proposing a rule to ban carriers from selling phones that are tied to their networks. O2, Sky, Three, Virgin Mobile and some smaller carriers already offer unlocked phones, but Ofcom wants the likes of BT Mobile/EE, Tesco Mobile and Vodafone to do the same. It's also seeking better clarity for customers about whether their handset is locked.
Huawei is helping all the UK's top carriers build their 5G networks
British carriers apparently aren't put off by US pressure to ditch Huawei for their 5G network deployments. The Guardian's sources understand that all four of the UK's largest wireless providers (EE, O2, Three and Vodafone) are all using Huawei to build their 5G networks. The Chinese firm is reportedly involved with six out of Vodafone's seven initial 5G cities, while it's also helping with "hundreds" of EE sites. O2 and Three have also awarded contracts to Huawei, according to the tipsters.
The Galaxy S10 5G goes on sale in the UK June 7th
Samsung has revealed the Galaxy S10 5G will go on sale in the UK June 7th, initially on Vodafone and EE, and it'll be available in its majestic black and crown silver finishes. Pre-orders will open on May 22nd, though pricing is not yet clear.
Vodafone will launch the UK's first 5G service on July 3rd
The UK is finally getting 5G, and Vodafone will be the first network to provide it. The company says its 5G will go live on July 3rd, with 5G roaming following later this summer. And, crucially, it won't cost any more than 4G.
UK's largest mobile carrier will launch 5G in 16 cities next year
EE, the largest mobile carrier in the UK, is planning to launch its 5G network in 16 cities across the country in 2019. The carrier will flip the switch on the high-speed network in heavily trafficked areas in the UK's busiest cities. The initial launch will include London, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Belfast, Birmingham and Manchester.
Apple may enlist UK telecom giant BT to jumpstart its TV strategy
Apple has been laying the groundwork for its entry into TV services for a while. Now, however, it might recruit one of the UK's largest telecoms to help out. The Daily Telegraph sources have claimed that Apple is in "early discussions" with BT to distribute Apple TV devices to EE broadband customers. Each media hub would come pre-loaded with apps for BT Sport and third-party channels. Apple and BT have both declined to comment, but there are reasons why an alliance would make sense.
New rules are killing deceptive broadband ads in the UK
Nearly every telecom in the UK has reduced advertised broadband speeds thanks to new rules, according to consumer watchdog Which?. Until recently, telecoms were allowed to brag about peak speeds that were available to only one in ten users. Last year, however, the Advertising Standards Association (ASA) ordered them to show average speeds available to half of all customers at peak hours. As a result, the cheapest packages now show speeds of 10 or 11 Mbps, rather than "up to 17 Mbps" -- a 41 percent drop.
Three and EE lose High Court fight over 5G spectrum auction
Ofcom has fended off two legal challenges that threatened to delay the UK's next mobile spectrum auction. Three and BT-owned EE had filed separate complaints over a proposed bidding war that was scheduled to take place later this year. Three argues that Ofcom should be stricter with its spectrum caps, limiting EE's spending power and potential allocation, while BT believes that there should be no restrictions whatsoever. The High Court disagreed with both today, believing that Ofcom had done its homework and properly modelled how different caps would affect the outcome of the bid and, subsequently, consumer choice in the UK.
EE’s £150 all-glass Hawk phone offers super-fast 4G
A little more than a week ago we caught wind of a new own-brand smartphone by EE. Today, that device is official — it's called the Hawk and will run you £150 on pay-as-you-go, or zilch with a two-year contract starting at £14.99 per month. That's a tad more expensive than we were expecting (our little birdie pegged it closer to £100), but otherwise the Hawk contains few surprises. Up front is a 5-inch, 720p display running Android Nougat 7.1 (no word on Android Oreo), while a 1.5Gz, octa-core Mediatek 6750 processor and 2GB of RAM keep everything ticking over.
EE's next phone will be all glass and cost just over £100
It's been so long since EE launched a new own-brand smartphone, scan its online store and you won't find any handset bearing the carrier's logo on offer. It appears EE is planning to release such a device in the coming weeks, however, just in time to capitalise on the Christmas rush. A little birdie tells us it'll be an entry-level number available for free on cheap contracts, with a pay-as-you-go price of just over £100. (Apologies for the quality of the pictures -- little birdies aren't the best product photographers.) What we know so far is it'll have a 5-inch screen (likely a 720p panel given the price point), an octa-core MediaTek 6755 chip, a 13-megapixel primary camera and an 8MP front-facer.
There's something called 'Enhanced HD Voice' and EE supports it
Most weirdos people that actually use their smartphones to make calls will be aware of the eerily crisp connections of HD Voice. All major carriers in the UK support the standard at this point, which is technically known as Voice over LTE (VoLTE), since 4G frequencies are responsible for the improved call clarity. But apparently, there's something better. It's called Enhanced HD Voice, and EE is today boasting it's the first network in the UK to support it.
Of course EE's hyping wireless chargers on new iPhone day
EE all but confirming new iPhone features before Apple's had a chance to announce them is turning into a bit of a yearly tradition. This morning, the carrier announced it's now selling Belkin's Qi Wireless Charging Pad for £30 (this is the standard retail price, by the way). Also, EE says other chargers and accessories will, in the coming weeks, be joining the provider's Add to Plan scheme. This lets customers on two-year handset contracts buy accessories and spread the cost over several months by adding a few quid to their monthly bill. Rumor has long had it that wireless charging would make its debut on this year's iPhones, so EE's announcement is no coincidence.
EE is upgrading its 4G network by polishing up old 2G spectrum
Ofcom's upcoming spectrum auction will help some UK carriers improve their 4G services, and allow all networks to start preparing to launch next-gen 5G. Three began legal proceedings against Ofcom just last week, as it's not happy with the regulator's rules for the auction. The combined might of BT and EE won't be too upset by further delays, since it's banned from bidding on 4G frequencies anyway (on account of it controlling nearly half of usable 4G spectrum already). EE has said today that it's going about upgrading its 4G network regardless, by taking creaky old 2G frequencies and converting them into shiny new 4G spectrum.
EE's new broadband router is a 4G MiFi for the home
EE and parent company BT both offer fixed-line broadband services already, but today EE is launching a new router that uses 4G to keep the whole household connected. The "4GEE Home Router" is basically a bigger, beefier MiFi that needs no formal installation. Just plug it into a power outlet, connect your phones, tablets and PCs to it via WiFi -- up to 32 devices are supported -- and enjoy download speeds of up to 90 Mbps (actual speeds will vary, of course).
EE says it'll also sue Ofcom to mould 5G spectrum auction as it sees fit
It seems a couple of UK carriers would rather tie the impending 5G spectrum auction up in litigation than let any of their competitors get their own way. Following in the footsteps of Three, EE's now threatening its own legal challenge against Ofcom in an attempt to get the regulator to release more spectrum earmarked for 5G services this time around, rather than holding separate auctions for different slices of the airwaves further down the road.
Mayor of London promises public 4G on the Tube by 2019
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has vowed to bring proper mobile connectivity to the London Underground, including platforms and tunnels, by 2019. It's a promise that we've heard many times before, but this time it might actually happen because it's tied to a crucial network upgrade for the emergency services. A trunked radio system called Airwave, owned by Motorola Solutions, is due to be switched off before 2020. It'll be replaced by the Emergency Services Network (ESN), a 4G and 5G-ready service managed by EE. Khan's hope is that the new infrastructure required for ESN can also be offered to commuter and tourists on the Underground.
