O2 has started its first large scale 4G internet trial in the UK and the honor has gone to the city of London. The telecom operator's trial
covers 15 square miles area, stretching from Canary Wharf to Kings Cross. The trial will also cover areas like South Bank and Westminster and will last for nine months. So, if you live in any of these areas, just get prepared for the ultra-fast internet, as it is claimed that the new network will be about 10 times faster than the existing 3G network. The company has set up 25 masts for transmitting the data.
In its initial stage, the trial will provide internet access only to laptops and tablets. The company said that it won't be providing the services to mobile phones due to compatibility issues. As for tablets and laptops, the company will offer mini modems or dongles for accessing the network.
UK has been lagging behind other countries when it comes to 4G deployment. However, the telecom companies are now waking up and recently, Everything Everywhere had started a small scale trial of 4G services, in collaboration with BT Group. The trial covers 200 residents of St. Newlyn East and will last for three months.
Ronan Dunne, Chief Executive Officer of O2 UK dismissed the idea that the UK is falling behind. He said, "We’ll all be ready to get off the blocks as soon as the spectrum is cleared. Nobody will have a national network on day one, but there is the opportunity to have significant coverage ready to go.” 4G spectrum is likely to go on sale in the second half of 2012.