EE, the UK’s largest 4G network, has revealed it is converting some of its 2G spectrum in order to boost LTE speeds in major cities.
Over the next six months, the carrier will convert some of its remaining 1800MHz spectrum to 4G LTE, at 600 towers in the UK.
This is to prepare for Cat 12 LTE devices expected to arrive later this year.
Right now EE has over a thousand sites that support Cat 9 phones, capable of reaching 400Mbps.
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and Cardiff are expected to benefit from better speeds and coverage thanks to the extra 4G bandwidth.
It could also see maximum upload speeds doubled from 50Mbps to 100Mbps.
Related: What is 5G?
In a press release, EE said the switch will help those with phones running the next wave of 4G modem tech to make the most of their devices.
“The sites will power the next wave of mobile devices to hit the UK market, equipped with ‘Cat 12’ and ‘Cat 16’ modems, making sure consumers are getting the most from their new smartphones,” the release read.
iPhone X-ready?
Given the timing of release it’s likely Apple’s next-gen iPhones (announced at an event tomorrow) will benefit from the network upgrade
“We’re converting 2G into 4G, because that’s what our customers need,” said EE CEO Marc Allera.
“So if you are choosing a new smartphone, the message is simple: there’s only one UK network that offers the best smartphone experience.”
Are you happy to see EE push speeds in the major cities or would you prefer more reliable service in more remote areas? Drop us a line @TrustedReviews on Twitter.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
