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Motorola Testing 4G Mobile Broadband In UK
CNETNate writes "Motorola has launched UK trials of the leading candidate for 4G mobile broadband technology, the long-term evolution (LTE) of 3G. The communications equipment maker began the trials at its testing facility in Swindon, UK on Monday. It plans to test out live LTE calls with data streaming, using a prototype LTE device and the 2.6GHz spectrum band that is due to be auctioned later this year. The news arrives after Motorola reported losses of $3.6 billion in the fourth quarter of 2008."
Just be glad they went with 4G is instead of ASDF2.1 or something. At least this way you've got the "it's 4G so it's obviously better than 3G" consumer logic going for you.
You are using English. Please learn the difference between loose and lose; they're, there, and their; your and you're.
Until the UK mobile network operators begin to get realistic with their data pricing structures, 3G/4G services will be the preserve of those with too much money and not enough initiative.
Notice the spectrum is to be auctioned? Last time they auctioned spectrum, the prices ran up to silly money and the consumers are now paying for it.
I'll not comment on European data roaming charges to avoid getting a hernia.
Ripping an new rectum in the fabric of spacetime.
Big deal. Apple is already testing the iPhone 5G ne plus ultra.
Sent from my iPhone
It never ceases to amaze you that the technology which doesn't require fucking around with kilometers and kilometers of wire is improving faster than the one that does?
"You're right," Fisheye says. "I should have set it on 'whip' or 'chop.'"
The UK's cable is already fiber and has been since they started rolling out cable services, so stop spreading the last mile myth. The RSBs are a different matter, very old tech, which is a lot easier to replace when they bother. Coax is only used from these to your house, a matter of a few meters. The cabling is ready, NTL are already doing 50mbps on this so-called old tech. 20mbps is pretty common now, and that's over the same gear that was down at 512kbps eight years ago. DSL is still shit.
Heard the new one does that video calling deal. Video is just want I want when my boss calls or at 3 in the morning. Then again on second though with every telemarketer seeing me in my boxers. It might work better than the "do not call" list...lol
I don't think coax is used at all - phone lines are usually twisted pairs, or even just plain untwisted wires.
-- Ed Avis ed@membled.com
3G?! We're on HSDPA here in the UK, that's 3.5G to you I guess. HSDPA connection with an Xperia X1 is bliss.
I'm Not sure where you get £4/MB from...
There are plenty of data tariffs from most of the networks now that give you 1GB/month for free which is generally more than enough for most on a mobile.
T-mobile for instance do it for like £5/month (and it's even free on some tariffs) which works out at £0.005/MB ish. Then of course there's the iPhone on O2.
Also you don't need to spend more to use 3G services, you are vastly ill-informed, either that or simply have no clue.
So though there certainly are tariffs which might cost £4/MB, you'd have to be an idiot to use them.
Getting laid in Croydon; is it worth it?
I drank what? -- Socrates
That's true for BT phone lines, but Virgin Media do indead run coax to the house (despite their adverts, where Samuel Jackson's claims that fibre runs to the house).
The wire doesn't need changing for the most part, ignoring the fact the UK already has a decent amount of fibre already, even copper isn't really inherently any worse than radio for the range of data transfer we're talking about.
It's really the tech. in the local cabinets that needs changing but that isn't getting changed. BT is planning to take years and years to roll out ADSL2 (I think they're expecting completion by 2012 to 2014) yet the mobile operators have repeatedly managed to show they can upgrade to new tech. much faster when it comes out.
The only reason fibre is mentioned in reports about upgrading the UK's broadband infrastructure is because there's a strong belief it has much more long term potential, but that hasn't stopped live tests in some countries from demonstrating 100mbps and such over older copper connections.
The point is that if mobile operators were running the fixed line infrastructure as they do the mobile infrastructure you can guarantee they'd have this kit in already or within a few years at most, whilst BT wouldn't get something like that in until at least 2020 because first they'd have to finish off ADSL2 taking them to 2012, then they'd say the UK is fine now for at least 2 - 3 years, then they'd accept things need improving, this would be followed by a 2 year study and pushing for government subsidies, followed by 1 year of trials and then they'd spend the next 3 years rolling it out. This is how ADSL and ADSL Max rollouts were done and by the time ADSL2 is complete, it'll be almost the same for that too.
So yeah, it never ceases to amaze me...
Virgin's service here (Reading) is a figure-8 cable which consists of coax, which supplies telly + broadband, and four pairs copper, which is used for the phone if you have one. Exactly the same as I had when I was with telewest in Brum.
Old news! They're already building the first European 4G network in Oslo, Norway (TeliaSonera).