LG: UK 4G networks ‘unexpectedly sluggish’ to arrive

LG has criticised the slow rate with which 4G has been rolled out across the UK, stating that the process has been ‘unexpectedly sluggish’.

Suggesting that it had expected to see a stronger 4G LTE offering rolled out across the UK more quickly that its current dawdle, LG has claimed that although it is surprised by the sluggish 4G introduction, it is benefiting from the delays through increased 3G handset sales.

“We have a good footprint in Korea in the LTE market but LTE has been sluggish in terms of rollout in Europe,” Won Kim, Head of European Marketing for LG’s Mobile Communications sector said. Speaking with TrustedReviews he added. ”It is more than late, later than we expected”.

With EE currently the UK’s only 4G network provider, a recent 4G spectrum sale saw a number of leading networks, including O2, Vodafone, Three and BT all confirm their intentions to bring further 4G channels to the UK later this year. Despite these good intentions which should eventually offer faster speeds and more competitive prices for UK consumers, new 4G network will not be turned on in the UK until at least autumn.

Despite having offered some criticism on the somewhat slow UK 4G rollout, LG’s spokespeople revealed that the company has seen 3G handset sales soar across the UK and Europe, an effect surely boosted by the recent LG manufactured Google Nexus 4 release.

Discussing the matter, Kim stated: “Our footprint in 3G smartphones has been substantially improved in the last year and we are reaching about 10 per cent market share.”

Although suggesting that the company’s mobile basis in the UK is “weak, he added: “We have a good footprint and a number of 3G phones positioned in some European countries. At the same time we have good customer relations and brand recognition in some countries.”