GUIDE: What is 4G? How do i get it?

NorthernOne

This is why you need 4G!

I am with EE and once you have it anything else is just slow. I cannot go back to 3G now.

ZhugeEX

I can get up to 30Mbps on 3G so....

4G is a great technology but it's not worth the premium that EE are charging in my opinion. And unless you tether or download heavily the speed increase isn't going to help much in basic internet activities. And besides, EE cap data anyway so if you do tether you're paying a hefty premium for more data.

I agree 4G benefits some, but a minority of people at the moment,

I'll update this thread when O2 and Vodafone announce their 4G plans next month.

tednol

Can the original poster point to where he got his information from regards Three not launching a 4G service until Q4 2013?

As I understand it they aren't able to use the spectrum they acquired (towards the end of 2012) from EE until Q4 2013, but that restriction does not apply to the spectrum they obtained from the Ofcom auction process.

ZhugeEX

tednol wrote: »

Can the original poster point to where he got his information from regards Three not launching a 4G service until Q4 2013?

As I understand it they aren't able to use the spectrum they acquired (towards the end of 2012) from EE until Q4 2013, but that restriction does not apply to the spectrum they obtained from the Ofcom auction process.

That's correct. But my information comes direct from Three itself. Their CEO said they won't role out 4G until the end of the year.

They could do it right now but they're delaying it themselves.

http://www.3g.co.uk/PR/April2013/threes-4g-mobile-network-coming-in-q4-2013.html

their CEO Dave Dyson has recently announced that they won’t be rolling out 4G until the fourth quarter of the year

And just to confirm. Everything written in the first post is all backed up via official sources. As is the information in my other "truly unlimited" thread.

If you want me to quote sources just ask here and i'll be happy to oblige.

manicdeb

I've got a Galaxy S4 of EE and am mighty impressed with the speeds I'm getting but I was not advised that 4G uses more data than 3G and in 2 days I'd used over 1GB so I've cancelled the contract and I'm moving to another network. And after reading this it could well be 3

ZhugeEX

manicdeb wrote: »

I've got a Galaxy S4 of EE and am mighty impressed with the speeds I'm getting but I was not advised that 4G uses more data than 3G and in 2 days I'd used over 1GB so I've cancelled the contract and I'm moving to another network. And after reading this it could well be 3

It's not so much 4G uses more data, it's that 4G allows you to use more data. for example downloading a 100mb file on 3G and 4G will still use 100mb. But over 4G the download is much faster which means you're not waiting for the download to finish for a long time. So basically with a 4G connection you can download much more than a 3G connection can over the same time period. This allows people to use more than they normally would.

But i have to agree. EE have been a bit stupid to cap 4G at such high prices. 1GB for £41pm is very expensive when the average high data user uses 1.4GB on average. And when you can get 1GB of data for under £15pm with a free phone with some networks it makes 4G seem very very overpriced.

Three is a good choice, they've made a very good decision to brand their entire network as "Ultrafast" as their 3G speeds can be just as fast as 4G on some occasions. Also their unlimited data is very appealing. Only downside is that when it comes to 4G their roll out won't start till end of the year and it'll be much slower than the other networks. But like i mentioned, their 3G network is up to the mark anyway, and 4G won't benefit many people just yet.

manicdeb

I've had this all out with them today as my routine has not changed whatsoever - no more internet/apps than I used previously but somehow I'd used 1GB. The first caller said it's obviously a fault on my handset and they would monitor it. I then read articles online where the EE CEO or whoever said that 4G would not use more data but merely allow you to do more things quicker. After testing side by side with my old contract on 3G I saw the data usage was extortionately more for 4G. I rang again asking for an explanation when this time I was told that BECAUSE it was donig things quicker, OBVIOUSLY it would use more data. I advised her did she know that the EE website andf various articles online from EE spokespersons said that 4G did NOT use more data she simply said, "I can't comment on that but obviously you can see it's using more"

Bearing in mind that the company I was with until two weeks ago sold me an unlimited data tarrif with EE (which I now know doesn't exist) as well as the fact that EE have said this other company should have informed me that doing everything I used to do would now cost me more data wise, and they also failed to tell me I'd been charged for delviery of the phone they have opening an complaints investigation. So i'm saying bye to my shiny new SGS4 and hello to my SGS1 which has a battery life of 2hrs max when using any data whatsever and feeling "stuck" as this investigation can take up to 8 weeks to resolve (and I won't be refunded anything until then either)

Needless to sday I'm fed up

manicdeb

My brother's been with 3 for years and is very happy. No issues whatsoever and they gave him a great deal on both his phone and his wife's. Think I'll move to them too

ZhugeEX

manicdeb wrote: »

Bearing in mind that the company I was with until two weeks ago sold me an unlimited data tarrif with EE (which I now know doesn't exist)
Needless to sday I'm fed up

Oh really? You know you're not the first person to have been mis sold a 4G tariff. What's happening is the call centre staff are being paid a higher commission to sign people up to 4G so are outright lying to people saying that it's unlimited or that they will stay with Orange or that their insurance carries over etc... All of it is lies to get people to sign up.

Hence my post here which explains to people exactly what they're getting for the price. Unfortunately i know over 5 people in real life who've been mis sold 4G contracts and at least that number online as well. There are probably loads more.

To be honest i have no idea why your S4 was using so much data in that short space of time. It does seem like there could have been something wrong as the website is correct in saying that 4G doesn't use more data. Weird how it was.

Good luck with getting your complaint sorted out. Although i can't see EE not doing what they've done to you (Mis selling) to other customers as well.

manicdeb

Thanks ZhugeEX :-)

I've found EE to be really helpful when I rang yesterday and said I'd discovered there was an error and that I should be on unlimited she had no hesitation in saying "I'm sorry however we don't offer unlimited internet. I can increase your data limit free of charge so you don't get cut off and raise a complaint with (the company I don't want to name in this thread).

When I rang that company back today asking for an update on the complaint they simply said it had been referred to OFCOM and someone would be in touch in due course. I then obviously added to the complaint about the issue of the obscene amount of data I'd used and the delivery charge which the lad also kept to himself)

I'll keep everyone informed of how things go