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A farmer built his own 4G mast to fix rural broadband issues
Living in rural England, Richard Guy was a man with a problem. Like many located in similar areas, his "broadband" internet connection was pretty narrow, with download speeds below 1Mbps. While some isolated communities are grouping together to build their own municipal networks, Guy had another solution: mobile data. He created his own 4G mast and wired it up with fiber optic cables, and now enjoys 45Mbps+ connection speeds. Guy, a farmer by trade, has since set up a business called Agri-Broadband to help other rural businesses get connected.
GiffGaff to introduce 4G cap on unlimited data tariff
GiffGaff will simplify its mobile "goodybags" this September with a new range of plans which come with 4G as standard. In total, there will be seven plans priced between £5 and £20 per month, with varying amounts of minutes, data and texts, as well as free calls to other GiffGaff numbers. Until now, the network's 3G-only plans have typically offered higher allowances than their 4G counterparts, so you'll have less flexibility when choosing between volume and speeds. Some of the 4G plans will see their data allowances increased, however, so it's not all bad news when your 30-day plan rolls over.
Smartphones become the most popular device for keeping Brits connected
It was only a matter of time, but smartphones are now officially the UK's most popular internet-connected device. For the first time, more people are choosing smartphones to get online than laptops, according to stats published today in Ofcom's annual Communications Market Report. Smartphones are now considered the most important way of staying connected by 33 percent of Brits, with 30 percent preferring their laptops. That's a significant change from last year, when laptops were favoured by 40 percent of people and smartphones by only 22 percent. This coincides with smartphones also becoming the most widely owned web-connected device, with a presence in 66 percent of households compared with a 65 percent figure for laptops. Shipments of PCs have been declining for many years as mobile devices have become increasingly popular windows onto the web, and in the UK, tablet ownership is growing faster than anything else. In another first, Ofcom notes that over half of UK households (54 percent, to be exact) now have at least slate for the family to poke at.
EE's Rook is a £49 4G smartphone for pay-as-you-go punters
It seems like we can't get through a single month these days without one UK carrier or another launching an own-brand device. And, since the last device bearing a network provider's name came from Vodafone, it's only fitting that its own-brand nemesis EE gets to make the next announcement. So, without further ado, let's take a gander at the EE Rook, the carrier's newest home-grown handset aimed specifically at pay-as-you-go (PAYG) punters. Launched today for £49 for new customers and £39 for existing ones, EE calls it "the UK's lowest priced 4G smartphone." Technically, that epithet's correct, though it's only a lone pound cheaper than Vodafone's Smart 4 Turbo on PAYG. As EE's Harrier Mini is available for free on the provider's lowest-price contracts, it makes sense that the Rook be a PAYG-only affair, but what exactly do you get for that kind of money?
EE's own-brand action cam livestreams over 4G
With own-brand smartphones, tablets, MiFis and portable chargers, you would think EE's starting to run out of relevant products to stamp its logo on. After showing a recent interest in remote livestreaming by funding the Skeegle app, however, the carrier has today announced it's branching out into cameras. The 4GEE Action Cam, as it's inventively named, is a GoPro-style camera with the ability to broadcast directly over LTE without a smartphone conduit. The Action Cam can record 1080p video at 30fps, 720p clips at 30 or 60fps, and takes stills at up to 13MP (with an 8fps burst capture mode). Livestreaming over 4G is limited to 720p/30fps, though actual quality will depend on connection strength, and no points for guessing that Skeegle is where you'll find Action Cam broadcasts (settings and features are controlled through a separate companion app). The camera sports 2.5GB of internal storage, with a microSD slot to increase space by up to 64GB, and a 2,260mAh battery that's said to be good for three hours of streaming.
Ofcom plans to auction more 4G spectrum later this year
Ofcom is planning a fresh spectrum auction that will improve 4G coverage later this year. The regulator has 190 MHz to allocate to the major mobile networks, and today it's launched a consultation with possible auction formats. The concern is that some of the biggest carriers are undergoing mergers -- BT is buying EE, while the owner of Three UK is trying to acquire O2. if Ofcom awards all of the spectrum now, the balance of power could change unexpectedly if the deals don't proceed as planned. However, it could be six months before they're approved, and even longer before the transactions are completed, and the regulator doesn't want to waste any time putting the spectrum to good use.
EE's 10 million 4G customers are great news for BT
EE was the first mobile network to offer 4G in the UK, and now, more than two and a half years later, it's still easily the most popular. The company has accumulated 10 million 4G customers, beating the numbers last reported by Three, O2 and Vodafone. It's a huge lead and one that will please BT, which is in the midst of buying EE's business. BT wants to strengthen its quad play offering and EE, provided the deal goes through, will give it a substantial network and subscriber base to work with. The company already offers mobile contracts -- using EE's network, unsurprisingly -- and Sky has confirmed it'll launch an O2-powered network in 2016. Three UK's owner, meanwhile, is acquiring O2 in order to leapfrog EE and become the UK's biggest carrier. While they sort out the details, BT has some time to fortify its position -- after all, EE's base of 4G subscribers will only continue to grow, benefitting the provider when its £12.5 billion buyout is finally approved.
Carphone Warehouse's 'iD' mobile network launches tomorrow
Carphone Warehouse is launching its "iD" mobile network tomorrow, and in preparation it's revealed new details about its contracts and how they differ from the competition. For starters, they'll be separated into four tiers: Shockproof, TakeAway, Go To and SIM Only. The Shockproof tier starts from £7.50 per month and is designed to help you avoid expensive bills. To do this, iD will cap your usage automatically, while offering a customisable "buffer" just in case you find yourself craving a few extra GB. TakeAway, meanwhile, will offer plans from £25.50 per month with free roaming in 22 countries -- that's more than Three's "Feel at Home" initiative, if you're keeping score.
EE adds two own-brand smartphones to its low-cost Android flock
Besides offering the flagship smartphones from Apple, Samsung and HTC, UK mobile operator EE also offers a range of own-brand 4G devices. The carrier's avian-themed lineup already includes the Kestrel smartphone, Eagle tablet and a number of WiFi dongles, but today it's rolling out two new LTE phones for those with an eye on affordability. First up is the Harrier, a 5.2-inch 1080p handset that features a 1.5 GHz octa-core Snapdragon processor, 13-megapixel rear camera, 2,500mAh battery and runs Android 5.0 Lollipop. It'll also join the latest iPhones and Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 Edge in supporting EE's new WiFi Calling service later this summer.
Three's launching Voice over LTE support this autumn
Three's hellbent on continually improving network reliability and coverage, and as part of that, the carrier has today announced it's gearing up to add Voice over LTE (VoLTE) support to its network this autumn. The provider is currently on track to switch its VoLTE service on in September, facilitated by tagging additional 800MHz spectrum onto its existing 1800MHz network. This new slice of bandwidth is expected to significantly improve coverage in problem areas, particularly inside buildings, where 800MHz airwaves can penetrate more easily than other frequencies. Three expects roughly 1 million of its 8.5 million customers to be reaping the benefits of VoLTE by the end of the year, taking calls in places 2G and 3G signals can't reach. The only catch is you're going to need a VoLTE-compatible handset, such as the iPhone 6 or Galaxy S6. Any relatively new handset should do, though.
Vodafone's revamped mobile contracts come with 4G as standard
Vodafone is introducing a host of new monthly plans today with 4G connectivity as standard. The change affects its range of 12 and 24 month contracts, now called "bundles," and mirrors the stance taken by other networks such as EE and Three. In short, customers want faster speeds, and now that 4G-enabled devices are cheaper and more prevalent, it makes sense for Vodafone to offer its full network capabilities to everyone.
EE to launch its seamless WiFi calling feature on April 10th
EE's been talking about adding WiFi calling to its list of customer conveniences since last summer, and though slightly delayed, the feature is now ready for prime time. Well, almost, as WiFi calling will officially launch on April 10th, coinciding with the release of Samsung's Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. These flagships, alongside Microsoft's Lumia 640, will be the first phones capable of using the feature, though it'll become available to a slew of compatible handsets "in the coming weeks." You may be wondering why so few devices are supported at launch, and the answer lies in how EE has implemented WiFi calling on its network. Where O2 and Three have created smartphone apps that let their customers make calls over WiFi, EE's solution is completely seamless. No intermediary app is needed, meaning you'll be able to make and receive calls and texts over WiFi as you would normally, using your phone's regular dialer and messaging app. Provided you're a pay-monthly customer, that is, since the feature's not available to pay-as-you-goers.
BT gets back into mobile with a trio of SIM-only 4G plans
It's already been quite the week for the UK's mobile battleground, with Three UK's owner Hutchison Whampoa announcing its plan to acquire O2 for a cool £10 billion. And today, confirming recent rumours, BT is ready to re-enter mobile ten years after offloading its shares in O2 and getting out of the game. BT is pursuing its own, mammoth acquisition of EE, of course, but while it waits on regulatory approval, it's tapping EE's network under an MVNO agreement penned way back in 2013. BT is now part of the quad-play club, and like fellow members Virgin Media and TalkTalk, it's going after the price-conscious consumer with a trio of SIM-only plans.
Motorola's best budget smartphone just got even better
It's no surprise that the Moto G is the bestselling smartphone in Motorola's history -- it's always had solid specs and featured a class-leading display. Perhaps the only complaint is that the first- and second-generation handsets haven't launched with 4G support. That isn't to say Motorola isn't including it; it's just that it takes a while to get there. Now, finally, the company has decided to make the best budget phone you can buy even faster.
Panasonic takes on Dropcam with a 4G-equipped monitoring camera
WiFi monitoring cameras, like Dropcam, are great for keeping tabs while you're away. But what if there were devices that didn't require that connection, or to be plugged in all the time? Meet Panasonic's Nubo: a 4G-equipped security camera that can still keep a watchful eye on situations where there's no power or WiFi signal. The camera's motion sensor detects movement, recording clips in five-, 10-, 30- or 60-second lengths and analyzes the footage to differentiate between humans and your family pets. If your dog or an unwanted guest enters the monitored area, Nubo sends alert to your connected mobile device along with the captured video. What's more, the camera has a built-in speaker and microphone, allowing two-way communication should the need arise. It can be connected to an external USB battery too, so even if there's a loss of power, Nubo is still hard at work.
EE kicks off 400 Mbps 4G trials at Wembley Stadium
EE was the first 4G network operator in the UK, and it's now hell-bent on staying the fastest. After launching its LTE-A network (aka 4G+) in central London last October, it's trialling new spectrum configurations that could boost speeds even further. If you haven't been keeping up with all the network developments, here's a quick primer: standard 4G can offer theoretical download speeds of up to 150 Mbps, while LTE-A doubles that hypothetical maximum to 300 Mbps. To achieve this, EE added an extra 20MHz of 2.6GHz spectrum on top of its existing 1800MHz band, and now the carrier's testing a three-band approach that leverages another 15MHz, boosting top download speeds to 400 Mbps.
Verizon will speed up San Francisco data by installing 'small cells'
Some carriers use "small cells" to boost their coverage, because these relatively tiny transmitters are 1.) a lot cheaper, and 2.) more inconspicuous than their traditional counterparts. Verizon is one of those carriers -- in fact, it's planning to install 400 small cells in certain high-traffic areas in San Francisco starting this second quarter. These devices (designed by Ericsson) will be integrated into street lamps and will generally blend into the surroundings within SF's Financial District, SOMA, Market Street and North Beach neighborhoods. The cells do have a limitation, though: each one can only cover an area that has a 250 to 500-foot radius. That's why for this particular rollout, Verizon plans to lay down the structure for a dense network made up of numerous small cells covering some parts of the city only.
Virgin's small-cell networks to improve 4G coverage in the UK's biggest cities
The UK government has been pretty vocal about carriers needing to improve network coverage in rural areas, but that's not to say everything's hunky-dory in some of the UK's biggest cities. That's why Virgin Media Business -- the part of Branson's empire that deals with broadband infrastructure and the like -- is combining its fibre network with wireless expert Arqiva's knowhow to improve 4G coverage in cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester, Leeds, Bradford and Southampton. To do this, the pair will install small-cell technology (which, incidentally, EE is using to bring coverage to underserved rural regions) in "street assets" such as lampposts and CCTV cameras. These mini-masts will increase network capacity and improve 4G coverage in areas where buildings can get in the way of the signal. When the small-cell systems are up and running, the idea is carriers will pay Virgin and Arqiva to access them. That should be an easy sell, however, since they can immediately improve 4G services for their customers, no new infrastructure investment required.
UK government wants to bring 3G and 4G coverage to London Tubes
In the future, you might be able to tweet, read your emails and stream music on the London Underground without using Virgin Media's WiFi service. As part of new proposals to boost the capital's economy, the UK government has revealed its desire to bring 3G and 4G connectivity to the entire Tube network. Nothing is confirmed just yet -- it's merely talking with Transport for London (TfL) about how such a move could be funded -- and neither has it detailed how it would be implemented. The current WiFi network is inconsistent and doesn't stretch between stops; decent 3G and 4G connectivity would help to keep you online. In the meantime, the UK government has promised to extend WiFi to all subterranean sections of the Tube by the end of the next Parliament. Not a lofty goal given 150 stations are already supported, but a welcome one nonetheless.
Vodafone extends 4G roaming to cover 40 countries
You probably take Vodafone's 4G network for granted when on home turf, only to be saddened by slower speeds when travelling further afield. Well, Vodafone wants to make sure you get full use of your phone's LTE radio while abroad, and after announcing a bunch of new countries where 4G roaming is supported a few months ago, it's added almost as many to that same list today. Of the 17 new countries that make up the now 40-strong list, Japan, Mexico and Saudi Arabia are arguably the most notable, though you can have a gander at the full roster after the break. As you may already know, Vodafone lets customers use their normal voice, text and data allowances abroad for either £3 per day in Europe, or £5 per day everywhere else. And if you're travelling to any of the newly added countries over the holiday period, consider today's news an early stocking-filler.