Rate your broadband service!

Man using laptop image

Happy with broadband? Or is it letting you down?

Rate your broadband ISP here >>

First ever 4G live trial brings wireless broadband to Newquay

David Pawsey, Monday October 10, 2011 - 7:38 PM

The first live trial of next generation 4G Long Term Evolution (LTE) broadband in the UK has kicked off in Cornwall.

The trial, which began last Friday (7 0ctober) will enable approximately 200 customers living in an area of Newquay, which has low or no broadband service available, access the internet through wireless technology.

The customer trial has been carried out by BT Wholesale and Everything Everywhere – the parent company of Orange and T-Mobile- and is the UK’s first test of an LTE solution which can be deployed to both mobile and fixed line customers.

Following a successful eight week laboratory trial, which tested the network deployment in simulated conditions, representatives of Everything Everywhere and BT Wholesale said the experience of live triallists would help them better understand realistic 4G LTE speeds, as well as general mobile broadband data service conditions in rural areas.

Olaf Swantee, CEO, Everything Everywhere, said with numerous factors – such as the number of people using the network, their distance to a mast, building density and geographical terrain- affecting data speeds, the live network trial in Cornwall would be key to understanding how LTE technology will perform in real life conditions.

He said: “Soon, more people will be accessing the internet on their mobile devices than on their PCs, and that means we need the right kind of networks in place to deliver the right kind of experience for our customers. That’s why, as the UK’s largest communications company, we are leading the development and introduction of new technologies like 4G. This next generation mobile network will allow individuals and businesses across Britain to access the people, places and things they want, wherever they are, whenever they want.”

Nigel Stagg, CEO, BT Wholesale said: “BT is committed to working with the government and using technology innovation to find ways of addressing the remaining challenges within the UK where there are still broadband ‘not-spots’.

The final 10 per cent of the country is exceedingly difficult to reach with the available standard fixed line solutions. Our proof of concept trial in Cornwall will test the capabilities and services that a shared fixed and mobile data network can support and is just one of the options, along with fibre and other mobile and wireless technologies that we are looking at to offer a possible solution to the rural broadband challenge.”


Leave a comment

XHTML: <a href="" title=""> <abbr title=""> <acronym title=""> <b> <blockquote cite=""> <cite> <code> <del datetime=""> <em> <i> <q cite=""> <s> <strike> <strong>

NOTE: All commments are reviewed. Please ensure comments are NOT Off Topic, Spam, Personal Attacks, Illegal or use profane or provocative language. Feedback or corrections about the article should be made by contacting us using the relevant link below.

Subscribe to SeekBroadband

Get the latest news, special offers, reviews and more.

NB. We will never pass your email onto third parties.

 Subscribe in a reader



Article keywords:   Broadband, Bt, Internet, Mobile Broadband, T-Mobile