UK has worse wireless broadband than Mongolia

[Simon]

The UK has slower wireless broadband networks than Uzbekistan and Mongolia, according to Wireless Intelligence, an analytical arm of the GSM Association.

While regulator Ofcom and network carriers ponder how to move Britain onto 4G LTE services, with arrival not expected until 2014 at the earliest, smartphone surfers in Uzbekistan, Poland and other countries are already using commercial rollouts of the technology.

The UK, by comparison, is two generations behind – relying on HSPA 3G technology. Three says customers using these services can get access at up to 5.6Mbits/sec, but average download speeds are 1.5Mbits/sec.

Meanwhile, trials of LTE by O2 have demonstrated download speeds of between 65Mbits/sec and 150Mbits/sec.

Read more: http://www.pcpro.co.uk/news/broadband/362992/uk-has-worse-wireless-broadband-than-mongolia

[Rik]

Are we surprised?

[Gary]

With 4G up for grabs soon and 3G still not being implemented well, I wonder if the UK will move forward at all 

[Rik]

No, but we'll spend our way out of it.

[pctech]

Long Term Evolution or 4G will be over hyped by the equipment manufacturers to get networks to buy expensive upgrades or new kit, operators will launch the services and be swamped with demand and we'll be back exactly where we are now.

[Rik]

Ever decreasing circles?

[pctech]

Indeed.

I think there needs to be tough traffic management from the word go to prevent use such as P2P as you can't deliver the same kind of service over a wireless network.

[Rik]

That would require cooperation, Mitch.

[pctech]

It's likely to prove unpopular too but it'll have to be done.

[Rik]

It will.

[Glenn]

How much of Mongilia is covered by 4G?

I think 4G is being pushed, more by the handset manufacturers, than the carriers. Nokia et al, have far more to gain then the likes of Vodafone, 3 etc, who would have to spend vast sums of money upgrading equipment.

[pctech]

It tends to start with the radio network manufacturers Glenn such as Nokia Siemens Networks and Ericsson who push the capacity improvements and money making opportunities provided by these.

[pctech]

The networks then demand handsets to take advantages of new services provided by the equipment they intend to buy.