Last week O2 announced that they will be rolling out a 4G service on 29/8/13 and this week Vodaphone have revealed they will launch a similar service, on the same day.
EE (the first network to offer a 4G service in the UK) has a base tariff of £21 per month. O2’s lowest 4G tariff will be £26 p/mth and Vodafone’s will start at £26 p/mth (without a handset) or £34 p/mth (with a 4G-ready device). The service will cost Vodaphone customers on average, £5 a month more than their 3G packages.
Vodaphone have indicated smartphones will be able to download data at six times the speed of the typical 3G service, whilst O2 committed to providing a service five times faster.
Vodaphone will also be providing unlimited data-use within the UK for the first three months of contracts, (but afterwards will impose an 8GB cap). Vodafone said this would help customers pick the right data package.
In a clever marketing move, Vodaphone are partnering with both Spotify & Sky Sports for their launch, to demonstrate how the new service can be put to good use. Unfortunately, this launch won’t mean 4G is available for everyone just yet though. It will launch in London on 29/8/13 and extend to a further 12 cities by the end of this year.
Three have advised they plan to launch a fourth 4G network before the end of the year, but exact details have not yet been confirmed.
