buzz muddleheaded: Three UK launching 4G service during Q4 2013, carrier in 'no rush' for LTE

Android Central

During yesterdays earnings report, Three UK CEO Dave Dyson also spoke of his carriers plans for their as yet un-announced LTE network. Three has picked up spectrum from both rival carrier EE, as well as the recent spectrum auctions, on which their future LTE network will be based. According to Dyson, we shouldn't expect to see LTE from Three anytime before Q4 2013, but that they are in "no rush for LTE."

Three currently offers an "Ultrafast" network via HSPA+, and customer response has been excellent. In our own real world tests, in certain areas Ultrafast can match, and even beat, EE's LTE for download speeds so you can understand Three's relaxed attitude towards 4G.

They're also purposely waiting until the other two of the big four carriers -- O2 and Vodafone -- launch their own LTE offerings. Dyson went on to say that Three is content to see how these two position their 4G offerings, before looking at how they offer their own.

4G is definitely the buzzword in this day and age, but Three isn't losing out too much by waiting. Besides offering some extremely fast HSPA+ data speeds, they also offer a wide range of all-you-can-eat data plans. Ultrafast will lead into 4G, and the first LTE markets will be where Three currently sees the most demand for mobile internet.

Source: Mobile News